WHALING

[Maureen K Clifford]

WHALING … Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

In the spring of 1896 there was ice upon the sea
and we both went a whaling – young Billy Bob and me.
We sailed the night till daybreak, plenty of whales there be
enough to make a fortune for young Billy Bob and me.
We let them live for the sea rose and waves broke 'cross our boat
it was a miracle at all that we were still afloat.
We lost an oar and rudder we were adrift on the sea
beneath dark scudding clouds and scared – young Billy Bob and me.

I’ve sailed the seven seas before, been twice around the Horn
but never yet have I once met the sight we saw that morn.
Afloat just off our starboard bow a mother and her calf,
her throat gave out a mournful note which would have made me laugh
were I not scared by her sheer size and close proximity
though seems she had no interest in the boat containing me.
She sang her song of loss and love and tears ran from her eye
and then it was I noticed a whale corpse lying close by.

Seems that corpse was her mate who’d been killed by our sharp harpoon
fired from the bloody whaler - ‘twas the one we shot ‘fore noon
and rough seas had parted the line and set the carcase free
so now ‘twas just the whale and calf and Billy Bob and me.
The whaling ship was nowhere seen perhaps she had been sunk
and I was cold and sober but I wished that I was drunk,
for wild thoughts now besieged my brain I saw the whale’s distress
I shared now in her sorrow and felt bad I do confess.

We shared the sea together and we heard her mournful dirge
whilst overhead a gathering of ferocious sea birds
were landing on the carcase, flensing flesh with savage beaks
and all the while, the young whale calf emitted little squeaks.
We drifted with the current and the whale drifted away
and soon we saw the golden sands of a small sheltered bay.
We paddled hard with our one oar and made it into shore
and vowed that we would never go a whaling any more.

[Neville Briggs]

Interesting tale Maureen.

Do you think that sentiments we hold now, can be assumed for people of that time.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Don't know Neville - people are people - some see animals as commodities to be bought and sold and killed at whim, some see them as living beings with feelings and emotions the same as human animals. Some people can respect an animals bravery and not wish to add to their suffering, others see tormenting animals as sport worthy of spending a few dollars on. I think it takes a certain 'type' of person to be involved in any industry/illegal sport that involves the slaughter of animals. Not something I could ever take an active part in. I hated selling our sheep knowing where they were headed.