Whale Speak

Who would presume to speak for whales And yet who would not speak for them? Their poetry of depths unknown The power in their mighty tales The transport of deep rumbling hymn Excited bursts from blowholes blown. Jubilant breach touching the skies Their world proclaimed in ghostly cries. What sounds are music to their ears, What strange rhythms suit their fancy, With what clarity do whale’s see, What sights would move a whale to tears, What blue thoughts might make them antsy, What God a whale’s true deity, What somber rites end natural death, What whale fears come with end of breath? Two extremes divided by sands, We populate air, sea’s their home, Oh, the things both take for granted! We’re both strangers in stranger lands- To bruise your feet under sky's dome, By sun, stars, and rainbow enchanted, To float your whole life without thirst Till harpoon informs you are cursed. Plant eaters claim that they’re better But still kill their own kind in war. One way or another, beaten We all walk in chain or some fetter Destined to be what we abhor. In truth one eats or is eaten, Whales too know the words of this song, At least we all know we belong.