Unnamed Humpback




A grey form lost in fog
lays on a grey beach
reflected against a grey ocean.

Red spill from its body
As I cut out its tongue
Bruised flesh ravaged by scientist scavengers.

For you, unnamed humpback, I mourn.




Comments

  1. KimAugust 15, 2019 at 11:59 AM

    This is very bleak and sad. Should it be "Red spills"? I wasn't sure what to think about the narrator cutting the tongue out while criticizing other scavengers. What makes the narrator different? Or, is the narrator the scientist? Good job and thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JenAugust 15, 2019 at 12:33 PM

    I had the same question as Kim, wondering why the narrator mourns as he/she is cutting a piece off the dead whale? I thought the "gray on gray" imagery in the first stanza was very effective in conveying a sense of moodiness and melancholy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. NorthieAugust 15, 2019 at 3:22 PM

    After the effectiveness of the monchrome first stanza, I half-expected the second one to continue with iterations of 'red'. The varying points of view in the second stanza confused me a little.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sanch @ Sanch WritesAugust 16, 2019 at 4:16 AM

    The first stanza definitely sets a bleak and melancholic tone. I think like others, I was a little thrown with the point of view in the second stanza

    ReplyDelete

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