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The icy mist of moonlight
falling pale upon the sea
enchants a lonely sailor boy
who dreams sweet destiny.
He shipped out of Nantucket for
his virgin voyage true,
to find and kill the mighty whale
as part of Essex's crew.

The ship had seen her better days
but offered change at last,
for orphans not Nantucket born
who passed to lower caste.
At fifteen years the youngest mate

to join an Essex's sail,
a boy who knew he must perform
beyond the norm or fail.

At two years old he lost his Pa
and then his Ma by three,
his grandma on the mainland raised
him right as right could be.
But last year death attacked her soul
and he was left alone,
he moved out to Nantucket Isle.
inside the whaling zone.

Now at the bow he stands his watch
on this old whaling ship.
Three months from port without a whale
for this a three year trip.
He hopes that soon the mighty beast
will rise to blow its hole,
then he will watch his mates take to
and slaughter its gray soul.

As dawn broke through to choke the moon
a shout came out on high;
the boy heard "Thar she blows" which means
a whale or whales are nigh.
Then all the crew poured from below
onto the deck they came
and slowly lowered boats to sea
with eyes afire in flame.

The day was long and things went wrong
but at the end they killed
four mighty sperms that soon would have
two hundred barrels filled,
with precious oil, Nantucket gold,
to light the lights at night,
and fill the stoves that still cook food
for men who love the fight.

Learn more about this author, Tom Mcmurray.
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