There was panic in the Hamlet when a runner brought the news,
That the taxman was a'coming to collect our tithe and dues.

There is wickedness and evil, there is sorcery at hand,
he will use his magic craft to cast a web across the land.

Get the Crucifix and garlic, light some candles, hide the cat,
throw some cow dung on the fire, let's destroy the "welcome" mat.

Get a wooden stake and incense, check what time the sun comes up,
and in case we're gonna need it, holy water in a cup.

Find a Rabbi and a Mullah, fetch a Buddhist and a Priest,
get the faiths to pray together, surely one can stay the beast.

Mix the cauldron, throw a bat in, lizard's tail and eye of newt,
from the wizard get a spell that we can cast upon the brute.

Burn some sulphur, hang a broom up, tie a harlot to the stake. 
Let's confront him with the good book, do whatever it will take.

Throw some offal on the Altar, drop some sheep guts at his feet.
Bring a virgin from the village to delay him on his beat.

You can see a bad moon rising, o'er a misty hillock's moss,
silhouetted on the summit stands a crumbling Celtic Cross.

Hark a church bell in the distance and the bleating of a goat,
incantations from the ruins, and a gargoyle's gurgling throat.

Crawling naked on his knees and tightly bound with chain and thorn,
flagellating head and shoulders goes a sinner, faith reborn. 

There are droppings on the cobbles so he can't be far away,
and the people cringe in terror on this dark and evil day. 

Harken, footsteps coming closer, block the cesspit, chain the door.
Throw saltpetre on the carpet, he might come up through the floor.

You can hear the Banshee wailing, by the river Charon waits,
and the triple-headed Cerberus is baying at the gates.

We can hear the clipper-clopper of some heavy cloven hoof, 
and unearthly creatures jiggling on the slates upon the roof.

Please deliver us from evil, call the hallowed by their name.
Lead us not into temptation nor submit without a claim.

Now the door rips off its hinges, 'tis the taxman, he has come.
We can hear a dozen voices in a low and droning hum.

In the greenish haze we see him, with his slitted yellow eyes,
and his nostrils belching fire, all our secrets he will prise.

He is looming in the doorway, and a carpet-bag he floors,
which he kicks toward our feet while in a thunderous voice he roars ---

"WHAT HAVE YOU TO DECLARE?!".

copyright ©  1980, 2007  S. Zervos
 

They sailed from port one morning when the weather it was fair,
a gentle breeze behind them and the crew without a care.

They sang and danced the night before and opened up a keg.
They sail to catch the monster whale that took the captain's leg.

The captain's name was Ahab and this voyage was his quest.
He vowed that 'til he caught the whale, his soul would never rest.

"A weighty purse of gold there is, for him who sees it first. 
Today we'll catch the monster whale, tonight we'll quench our thirst". 

"We'll sail back into port with song, no prouder man will be.
We'll show them all we captured it, the monster from the sea".

The captain told the crew about the whale that took his leg.
Their faces froze, their courage went, they downed another keg.

They thought this voyage would be joy, but now were in dismay,
They pleaded, even bent a knee, the captain would not sway. 

He walks the deck alone all day, a spyglass to his eye.
He shouts and swears some mighty oaths but nothing does he spy.

He stomps his wooden leg with force, the crew they back away,
A manic man with crazy mind, a debt he has to pay.

The sun was just a-rising when the lookout saw a spout,
he cried out from the crows-nest  in a loud and fearful shout.

" THAAAR  SHE  BLOWS! --- "

That morning when they saw the whale, the weather it was clear.
The men aboard were white as sheets, the Captain had no fear.

"I'll take this whale meself" he roared "the weak can stay behind. 
The strong can share my glory and tonight they'll share my wine." 

The whale it came so close to breach, it seemed to fill the sky.
They lowered down the longboat and they heard the captain cry,

"Now bend yer backs and row me lads and take me to me whale.
For many years I've waited, and this day I will not fail". 

The whale it cast a laughing eye at this pathetic sight. 
A flimsy boat with motley crew, no challenge to its might.

The crew they bent their backs and rowed, their faces grim and pale.
The captain stood with grit up front, and never did he quail.

With one foot on the bowsprit and a spear held in his hand,
his eyes ablaze with hatred that no man could understand.

The monster whale approached the boat and looked him in the eye. 
The captain raised his spear and shook - his fist back in reply.

The whale it came up closer still, about to flip the boat.
The captain heaved his spear with might and rammed it down its throat.

The monster blew a roaring spout and lifted high its tail.
It brought it down and smashed their boat, like splinters in a gale. 

A hundred years or so have passed since Ahab and his men, 
went down to serve their penance deep in Davy Joneses den.

The whale it goes on living and it hardly bears a scar.
If anyone goes near that place a voice calls from afar.

"Now bend yer backs and row me lads, no prouder man will be, 
We'll show them all we captured it, the monster from the sea"

THE WHALE WINS.

The true story of the monster whale depicted in this poem and which inspired the legend of "Moby Dick" will be found on the "Titbits" page of this website.

I wrote most of "Ahab's Whale" in the early 70's. My inspiration came after hearing an evocative sea ballad "The Whale", written and very beautifully performed by Fred Dyer and Terry Fielding in 1972. It was released as a single about that time and quickly reached the top five in the popularity charts. I have included some of  its lines in this  poem. "Ahab's Whale" is copyrighted by S. Zervos and the borrowed  lines belong to Fred and Terry. No part of it is to be copied or used without permission.