Poems of the Week

Great White Hope Not

by Steven Kent

“Orcas Sink Fourth Boat Off Iberia, Unnerving Sailors”
The New York Times

Call me Ishmael. Sure, okay,
Whatever, dude—just tend the sail.
Captain swears at last today
We’re finally gonna catch that whale.
Ahab’s not all there, you know,
But me, I never make a fuss.
Ish, man, what’s that noise below?
Oh God, the whale is chasing us!