Whaling In 1844
WHALING IN 1844
All hands came aboard
In March we left Deptford
Bound for Greenland’s whales and
Rather it was Wales’s green land.
The lookout on the mainmast tied
Saw her white spout and cried
“Thar she blows, mates”
And the shellbacks straight
Manned the harpoon boats
Pulling tight their oilskin coats
Even in the teeth of the squall
Captain Thomas called to overhaul
Boats were lowered and men aboard
Thinking of their whale-reward
Harpoon struck and the line paid out
She leapt with pain and turned about
The blue tail went skyward
Here was their whale reward
Smash into the boat and five
Floating men no longer alive
Losing the men was adverse
But losing the whale was a curse
The school would disperse
Affecting each man’s purse
The Baffin ice was thicker now
Under the yards, under the prow
So we set sail for England half-full
And ran south our icy hull
Home now and a short-time lull
We’ll soon be back for another cull.
Copyright © Sidney Beck | Year Posted 2010
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