"An ocean-planet, rounded by a glory, / The billowy glory of the great Pacific"

William Gibson attempts a poetic description of Hawaii:

  An island, central with inferior groupings,
Like Jupiter, in the cerulean distance,
Magnificent among his circling moons.

  Planet-like poiséd half submerged in ocean:
One hemisphere above the water-level
Apparent, belted by three climate-zones.

To which I can only say, "Ow, my ear."

ETA: I should probably clarify that this guy lived from 1826–1887, and did not write science fiction.

---L.