CALL ME ISHMAEL

In the interests in broadening our horizons, this section is devoted to verse which falls outside the parameters of rhyme and metre, such as blank verse and free verse. Registered users are welcome to post their original works here.
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Maureen K Clifford
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CALL ME ISHMAEL

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:09 am

CALL ME ISHMAEL … Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

An oily reflection of the sun
mirrored on the cold turquoise water
the sea swell, rocked the boat sluggishly
the slop seeming unnoticed
by the man poised in the bow
arm aloft – harpoon at the ready scenting the breeze
for that whiff of fish
that escapes when whales surface and blow.

Suddenly turmoil. Water boils around the boat
flocks of seagulls screech and circle
and at the stern
the white whale spy hops
and then dives deep, displacing the water
with a mighty slap from his flukes
that reverberates like a whip-crack
from the blue-white icy sides of nearby bergs.

Caught out, the men man the oars
and pull steadily –
on the hunt again.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: CALL ME ISHMAEL

Post by Shelley Hansen » Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:26 am

Hi Maureen

Just starting to catch up on posts I missed while away over the last couple of months. I really like this poem - of course it is reminiscent of Moby Dick, but apart from that, I can smell the salt spray when I read it!

I cheered for the escaped whale, too!

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
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Neville Briggs
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Re: CALL ME ISHMAEL

Post by Neville Briggs » Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:55 pm

They are game, chasing whales in a rowing whale boat close by the icebergs.

If they had women in the boat would women man the oars. ;)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Maureen K Clifford
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Re: CALL ME ISHMAEL

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:00 pm

A tad tardy with my response but I am delighted you liked this Shelley - thank you :)

They were game Neville but that is what they did :lol: Of course they would Neville - women have manned up to lots of things over the centuries :roll: and they wouldn' t be wailing about it either ;)
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

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