One of the couplets of the poem "The Fringe Of The Sea" sounds in such way: "and to think of turquoise mackerel / turning with consummate grace, / sleek and decorous / and elegant in high chambers". This extract helps the readers to understand that only memories and thoughts about the sea can make the island people happy. It can be compared with the lines in the poem "Island Man", where the main character was happy only in his dreams. The bright and exact describing of the fish is an effective method, which influences on the imagination of the readers. The author shows a fish as the turquoise mackerel. The turquoise in this situation means not only a colour, but also a precious stone. The author wanted to show in such way the value and the importance of the fish for the island people. The similar epithet was used in "Island Man" to describe the value of the native island for the main character ("emerald island").

The verse continues with the comparison of the fish swimming and the ballroom dance. The author uses for the description of the fish swimming the epithets, which can be used also for the description of the dancers: perfect, sleek, proper, elegant, staggering. This comparison shows a huge importance of the fish for the island people and the fact that these people can sacrifice of many things in the name of the main source of life on the islands - the fish. The words "high blue chambers" in the end of the couplet is connected with the sea, which is very similar to the dancing hall.

The next verse is devoted to the wish of people always to be near the sea, they imagine the sea as the workplace, as their home and as the place for the relaxation.