With her calf she dives <br />Into the darkness a mile below the waves <br />Where the great squid abides <br />Ferocious Goliath monarch of oceans deep. <br /> <br />Singing a lilting lullaby to her calf <br />In the darkness she swims in playful mood <br />And can for an hour remain down in the deep <br />Swimming side by side with her son. <br /> <br />Largest of the toothed whales <br />She comes to the surface <br />Spouting water through her blowhole <br />Smacking her great tail on the waves. <br /> <br />The Japanese harpooner takes aim <br />And the deadly bolt plunges home <br />The explosive charge detonates <br />Mortally wounded she calls to her calf. <br /> <br />Hauled up dying by her tail <br />Against the side of the whaling ship <br />In agony she dangles head in the sea <br />Bleeding slowly to death. <br /> <br />Her calf calls out in anguish <br />Following the ship for hours <br />But there is no lilting answering lullaby <br />Only blood in the water.<br /><br />Colin Ian Jeffery<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/death-of-a-sperm-whale/
