Books

Where your heart becomes a cannon spit iron on the whale Follow him through perdition's flame then live to tell the tale

 

There is no ship quite like a book

it wanders as it may

Then takes us out amongst the waves

where gods and children play

 

To places far and wide we trek

chase hell's whale 'long the pole

Crest waves with Ahab na'er the cape

where gods may claim your soul

 

There your heart becomes a cannon

spit iron on the whale

Follow him through perdition's flame

and live to tell the tale

 

As the oarsmen all stagger back

cross themselves o’re the job

No hope to see another day

forlorn begin to sob

 

Imaginations running wild

wicked cruelty sublime
Chase your whale till you catch his tail

or till the end of time

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Author's Note

Books are the windows to the world. But more than that they traverse time itself. As they take you to Melviles time of Moby Dick. They inspire. More than that they create the world of imagination. For Ahab the White Whale was nothing to be so idealised, rather it was "...all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil, to crazy Ahab, were visibly personified, and made practically assailable in Moby-Dick. He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it."
Thank You Allen Eddings for that rendition of the classic tale

Reviews

[Nayan]

Beautiful comparison of books with a ship! and of the mental renderings of the book's stories/chapters in our head/thoughts with that of waves!

I try to understand from your explanation that the whale symbolizes the evil and the negative qualities of man...

And I love all lines that rhyme so beautifully!

[Sunni Davis]

I have a serious obsession with books. Since I was three years old, I've had my face buried in a book and I've never regretted it. I love your comparison to ships and the ocean. Its perfect! Wonderful poem,Tate!

[Katannaism]

I love reading-and this really captures how books are. This is great~

[Jaeda]

What a great way to think of books! I'll never go into a library without thinking about an ocean of whales again... Thanks. :)

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

This is fabulous...........coming from a true bookworm here........

[Loner]

How true Tate , beautifully portrayed i must say !

[Allan Eddings]

A beautiful poem, inspired by a beautiful sentiment - and what more literary titan could you choose to provide this piece a setting then Melville?

Though of course for Ahab the White Whale was nothing to be so idealised, rather it was "...all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil, to crazy Ahab, were visibly personified, and made practically assailable in Moby-Dick. He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it."

But this piece recreates the metaphor for its own uses, and provides us with an uplifting sentiment.

Once again thank you,
A.E.

[Justin Guidroz]

Interesting imagery on how our mind works while reading. Good job sir!

[Lucia Morgan]

made me smile :) great execution all around.

Awesome awesome ... really superb .. applause .