Truth moves in the world
like a whale in the deepest ocean.
Its song echoes to the surface
astonishing mariners.
You can be Ahab. You can be Ishmael
(so-called). Lead the bloodthirsty pursuit,
follow as best you can-- or step aside,
be content to watch for spume from shore
and sometimes glimpse a fluke rising
breaking the reflective surface of reality
a reminder of deep waters. Or make your own way--
jump overboard, sink or swim.
Dragged under in the white whale's wake
you learn to breathe salt like a drowning man.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Ahab and Ishmael
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6 comments:
I guess I'll have to jump into the action with the strengh of the ocean!!
'Its song echoes to the surface
astonishing mariners.'
Lovely! This poem is gorgeous.
I love this poem! It's one that I'll want to revisit often to see if I can find something new with each reading. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful poem. "and sometimes glimpse a fluke rising/ breaking the reflective surface of reality/ a reminder of deep waters." Lovely.
A reminder of deep waters.
I like that. :)
that is the dilemna, eh? ishmael or ahab...
thanks! i esp liked the last 2 lines
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