Nabokov's phrase "black, foam-veined, complicated waters" are indeed words of genius. Take a sea kayak out in your favorite river-mouth when there's a storm co

Nabokov's phrase "black, foam-veined, complicated waters" are indeed words of genius. Take a sea kayak out in your favorite river-mouth when there's a storm coming. I guess Hemingway might have written "waves crashed over the deck and stung my face". Homer would have written "the wine dark sea rumbled at grey-eyed Athena's anger." But the Nabokov version is better. Homer? Best, maybe.