He told me over the deck to call him
Whenever there was a theatre of war;
A whale may inhibit me at times,
It is caretaker of the voyage home.
Another ship can be brought to buy
The slaves and jewellery and fuel.
Clear and contrasting was the report,
Idle chatter beamed on the people of the port,
People had the answers to questions they quoted.
The harpooner came on deck
And was in evidence.
Naveed Akram
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-harpooner/