Ph: Life: Whale Speak Poem by Brian Johnston
Ph: Life: 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.
May 8,2014
Additional voting or rating of this poem can be done by simply including your vote in a comment on the poem. I will update my poems rating later in a way that blocks Merov from altering the points given to the poem by more friendly reviewers. Apperantly the only number keys that work on Merov's computer are 0 and 1.: -) Poor Merov.
Poet's Notes:
We think about our first extra terrestrial encounters and yet life under the sea is so poorly understood. Animals like whales, and recently discovered communications by elephants as well, both of whom's vocabulary might contain immense riches / stories of which we are not aware. Probably not, but some whale brains are much bigger than ours. God only knows what they use them for, what dreams we might have in common.
A true caring father for all...including whales. Ha! you have delivered this important message clearly. Well done!
i had a whale of a dream just last week; i can't tell you about it in this public place, but (hint, hint) think giant squid and hula girls. i've sent a private message but it doesn't pertain to girls or squids. READ IT NOW. ;) bri i think the rhyming, though nice, got in the way of the 'story'. who says whales can't be thirsty, just because they spend most of their time in water? water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink. sound familiar? [now i've read 'that' poem online and found one typo there i believe.] maybe large parts of their brains help control salt metabolism, sonar, and navigation? i wonder how many navy seals, green berets, or marines were/are vegetarians. hmmm? just some thoughts from good old bri. THANKS FOR SHARING. :) bri p.s. ok! i gotta ask ya [(i've got to ask you OR i have to ask you.............for you other-language-speaker members of PH) ], did you MEAN to write mighty tales or mighty tails? ? and belong to what? i rate the rhymes and rhyme scheme 10++. the story, understanding, proofreading i rate..................hmmmmm.............i'm thinking....................don't want to be too harsh..............8. :) p.p.s. i DO HIGHLY recommend Brian's poem PH: Animals: The Man Who Loved Lizards. he did NOT pay me to write that, but he should have.
I agree it is a brilliant poem Brian and if only whales can speak they will sing the song of this poem. I gave it a 10/10 because it has lovely stanzas with deep meaning attached to it. Plant eaters claim that they’re better But still kill their own kind in war - a very nostalgic line and so true.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/23/2024 9:07:48 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Absolutely beautiful poem depicting the grandeur of the whale. The poet asks questions about whales that most of us would not think to ask, yet the answers would be fascinating. -To float your whole life without thirst, Til harpoon informs you are cursed-......brilliant lines from an equally brilliant mind.