First Encounter
Fierce winds blow across the Atlantic tide,
Colder she gets the rougher she'll ride,
In matt'r minutes a chill to the bone,
Few dare sail her northern zone,
Far north the whaling be done,
Colder in account for the miss'n sun,
The currents below just twist and swell,
Above her frozen by a northenly gale,
Sails drawn, busting through crests,
A captain in hope of filling his chests,
His riches are meat, blubber and oil,
Higher the reward the higher the toil,
Frozen upon a crow's nest a seaman perches,
Breathing warmth to fingers while he searches,
"Hurry up, you! Rise for yer air!,
This seaman's about had all he can bare",
"Ahead a whale's blow!" The watch shouts,
After two months he had his doubts,
On a boat in a vast ocean tis but a speck,
The seamen, like roaches, scatter across the deck,
Upon the bow comes a captain's roar,
"Land the big one and we'll head for shore!",
Mumbles begin to rumble across the crew,
Who can blame, with ev'ry night potato stew,
Still hard hands grasp long harpoons,
Praying to be blessed with throwing boons,
A pod of whales with seven or more,
Ahead at lead, a bull, one hell of a chore,
One hundred feet in length it may seem,
Whale skin pasty white with a hint of green,
Scars from predators who have failed,
Furious temper and plans to nev'r be scaled,
With sails raised the crew lowers cobles,
A small craft nev'r intended for nobles,
These boats were part of a fisherman's craft,
Characterized by high bow and shallow draft,
Upon each boat stood a man with a harpoon,
Chosen by the captain, whom a fellow goon,
They draw closer surrounding their prey,
Harpoons in hand awaiting whale's spray,
Captain points toward a great white mass,
"Alrighty Boys wait for yer pass!",
As the oars stay in motion pressing against the ocean,
The boatmen dare not cause a commotion,
For pure focus is upon this high bow,
With intent to win, this Captain's vow,
The white mass closes making a harpooner throw,
Red against white appears to glow,
First of many fishermen to try,
First of many to hear Moby Dick's cry.
Copyright ©
Garrett Bass
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