Andrew is a post-doctoral researcher in North Carolina focused on population and conservation genetics in hydrothermal vent communities.

David is a graduate student in Florida. He studies the ecology and conservation of sharks.

Amy is a graduate student in North Carolina studying local ecological knowledge within small scale fisheries.

Chuck is a graduate student in North Carolina focusing on apex predators and how they interact with fisheries.

Lyndell is a graduate student in North Carolina, studying the feeding ecology of cownose rays.

Iris is a graduate student in Washington studying habitat use and feeding habits of juvenile Pacific salmon and herring in Puget Sound.

Michael is a graduate student in Maryland investigating the visual systems of mantis shrimp.

Finding Melville’s Whale: The Quarter-deck (Chapter 36)

By Andrew David Thaler, on January 11th, 2011

Thanks to everyone who stuck around during our blog vacation. Our adventure into Moby Dick continues with chapter 36 – The Quarter-deck. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. Visit this page for the complete collection to date: Finding Melville’s Whale.

The Quarter-deck

Ahab, standing upon the deck, his leg
locked into an augered hole, asks “ye pull
to what tune?” “A dead whale or a stove boat!”

A dead whale or a stove boat. He withdraws
a gold coin and hammers it to the mast.
“Gold to whomever raises me a white whale!

The whale that took my leg and left me lame!”
And the crew murmurs, for the harpooners
know the beast that Ahab has sworn vengeance.

Leviathan! with a quick and mighty spout,
whose body, marked by a dozen harpoons
is as white as the sea foam – Moby Dick.

And they raise a whaleman’s toast to vengeance.
“Death to the White Whale! Death to Moby Dick!”
And only Starbuck knows it is madness.

Comments are closed.