Analysis of Ahab, eyes wide open.
I search the line
The compelling blue
Coming up fickle
Each day.
As sailors play
At scrub, hoist, trim
And hopefully a sighting.
Whale!
Thar she blows.
Yes Lads to the boats.
Whetted points and staffs.
Rope in myriads of fathoms.
Muscles, backs, necks
Giving it all
To the chant rhythm.
Like some monks
In an abbey.
Expecting a kill.
A carcass.
Towing and slicing for the boil
Of rich light and warmth.
Back home.
But all is almost
Beside the point.
Tis the white One
What bit off me leg.
Him I will trail.
To Hell if necessary.
Risking every soul.
For the delicious recompense.
Gold coin to the one
Sighting Moby Dick.
My nemesis who Lords it over
Krill, octopus, mackerel and singing dolphin.
In that eerie, whining Deep.
So translucent.
Scheme | XXXAAXXBXXXXXXXXCXXXXX XXDXBCXXDXXDXX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1101 00101 10110 11 1101 1111 0100010 1 111 11101 10101 101110 1011 1011 10110 111 0110 01001 010 10010101 11101 11 1111 0101 1011 11111 1111 111100 101001 1001010 11101 10101 110011110 11010001010 0110101 1010 |
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 742 |
Words | 157 |
Sentences | 23 |
Stanzas | 2 |
Stanza Lengths | 22, 14 |
Lines Amount | 36 |
Letters per line (avg) | 16 |
Words per line (avg) | 4 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 289 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 67 |
About this poem
I wrote this piece while watching the excellent film In the Heart of the sea, directed by Ron Howard. The real account behind Herman Melville’s masterpiece of whaling. And one devilish white whale of the hunt.
Font size:
Written on March 09, 2023
Submitted by dougb.19255 on March 09, 2023
Modified by dougb.19255 on March 09, 2023
- 47 sec read
- 15 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Ahab, eyes wide open." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/153803/ahab%2C-eyes-wide-open.>.
Discuss this Wayne Blair poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In