is the sound of wave washing whale
spurt of spout from blowhole
mournful moan of humpback’s tune
whaler’s ahoy and thud of harpoon
a deconstructed tooth or bone
hacked and sawn, cut and honed
when a lull of inactivity
gave rise to creativity
a reminder of giants of the sea
human beings’ waste and cruelty
Kim M. Russell, 4th October 2018
My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Artistic Interpretations: A Whale of a Tale
Margaret is our host this Thursday with inspirational images and a whale of a tale.
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Oh this is lovely! Just what I was hoping for with this prompt. I can’t wait to read the others. Whatever is said of the method, the artwork is stunning.
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Thank you so much, Margaret!
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Oh, I love this! Despite the way the ivory is obtained, the artwork is gorgeous.
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Thank you, Margaret!
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This just reminded me of Moby Dick.
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🐳
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Scrimshaw is beautiful–especially the one pictured here–but i can’t enjoy it, knowing what it means–the killing, the horror of it.
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I agree wholeheartedly.
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Whaling did become wasteful when Europeans arrived. I wrote of the First Nations protocols, which were very different. I still dont like the whales being killed, though in pre-contact times, it was necessary for the aboriginals’ survival. I am glad it doesnt happen now, at least on our shores.
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I am not a hunting fan, of any description.
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Whaling at one point but necessary but now it isn’t. I wish it still didn’t exist. Japan still kills whales for whatever reason. The alliteration in this was wonderful!
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Thank you so much, Toni! I abhor whaling and hunting of any kind.
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Yes. I abhor whaling. My uncle used to hunt in Colorado, mainly for food because they were so very poor. He would also kill out of mercy a big cat or elk that was injured and starving to death and leave it for the predators to feed from. So all hunting is not all senseless and cruiel and has its place.
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An excellent response to the prompt, Kim. Your poem is infused with subtle melodies and a cautionary tale (whale tails being rather few and far between).
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Thank you, Kerry.
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The whaling was terrible in it’s way… not just the killing but the way the whales were killed… but at one point it could be the difference between life and death. Love the sound of your poem
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Thank you, Bjorn.
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