A Whalers Lament Poem by Bernard Franklin

I didn’t know that whales could talk,
just the same as you or I.
I didn’t know that whales could sing,
or when they’re upset that they cry.
I didn’t know that whales could laugh,
or had a wicked sense of fun.
As they race in schools across the sea,
to chase the ever sinking sun.

I didn’t know that whales could care,
and protect their young ones like they do.
They have such strong maternal instincts,
when their calves are still brand new.
I didn’t know that whales were sentient,
or that they’re mammals and not fish.
When they saw my deadly harpoon’s barb,
what was their last despairing wish? .

I didn’t know the damage I was doing,
I just harvested the sea.
Two thousand whaling ships around the world,
all killing whales like me.
So now they’re quickly disappearing,
and very soon they wont exist.
They’ll be extinct in God’s creation,
we’ll add them to the growing list.

In years to come our cheated offspring,
won’t see these creatures in the wild.
To know it was me who tried to kill them,
I’m sure won’t impress my little child.