Whaling Days

They started out drift whaling along the shore
But soon moved on to pursuing the behemoths
Out into the open ocean

Men with faces of purpose boarding tall ships
Taking their bravery and capacious cupidity with them
They kissed their wives and children goodbye
Families wishing them greasy luck!

The whalers embarked as mermaids in costal caves
Sang their siren songs echoing in sailor's ears
Beckoning them come closer the the craggy shore

While the wives wiped the salt from their eyes
A few expressed their concern
Before being reminded,
"Miss Molly, we do not talk about
The Essex on Nantucket"

Men in tiny boats chasing their fortunes
Harpoon in hand while
Deckhands await aboard the ship
With jealous knives ready to carve
The blubber and boil it down to oil

They'd use the whole fish
To take in a haul large enough in
Hope that they could return to port
Home on the horizon,
But that will be years away