THE BALLAD OF MOBY DICK

There came a ship with billowed sail
From wide Nantucket's shore;
It braved the storms and lashing winds
And heaving breakers' roar.
She was the gallant "Pequod" called,
Upon the seas to dip -
To hunt the white Leviathan
Which men called Moby Dick.

The captain was a selfish man,
Bold Ahab was his name;
He lost a leg to Moby Dick
Whilst sailing on the main.
He worked the crew full sore and hard
Till they were spent and sick,
To hunt the white Leviathan
Which men called Moby Dick.

They sailed so long, they sailed so far,
Until a boat they spied;
And Ahab called the captain forth
Across the glassy tide:
"Hast seen the whale, Leviathan,
Which long eludes my ship?
The white and proud Leviathan
Which men call Moby Dick?'

The captain answered, "Surely so,"
And then began to weep: -
"He slew my sons, and dragged them down
Unto the salty deep:
My men are lost, I homeward sail,
So weary and so sick ......
Beware of this Leviathan
Which men call Moby Dick!"

But Ahab stood on deck all day,
And watched all through the night:
"Sleep shall not close my tireless eyes
Till Moby Dick's in sight!
I'll make him rue that fateful day
He drowned the Captain's sons -
I'll slay him with my own bare hands,
With neither fire nor guns!"

* * *

Long, lonesome days which grew to years
The Pequod roamed the deep;
And Ahab's anger cursed the sky
And caused his crew to weep.
"There is not one among you, men,
Shall see dry land again
Till Moby Dick can swim no more -
Till Moby Dick be slain!"

And then a spout of water streamed
When midnight's sun was high,
From far horizon's distant line
Into the icy sky -
And Ahab called, long weary then,
As rainbowed water rose:
"Indeed, 'tis he - Leviathan -
The white whale! There she blows!"

The men fought long and chased so far
Lest they should be too late;
But Ahab drove them ever on,
So full was he of hate.
They launched small boats with frenzied cries,
They scattered from the ship ......
And drowned, dragged by their own harpoons
Tied fast to Moby Dick.

The Pequod, lost and sorely tossed,
Was shattered in a day;
But Ahab fought with Moby Dick
To tear his life away.
But what is man against the whale,
Leviathan so quick?
Another Ahab there will come
Pursuing Moby Dick.