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Measurement of the Whale's Skeleton

from Call Me Ishmael; volume 7 by Patrick Shea

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lyrics

Chapter 103: Measurement of the Whale's Skeleton

A yard, a yard, a yard,
Down to the smallest marble.
And all you grasping for the truth
Should honor the proof
Of greatness tapered
To the trivial and minute.

A fluke, a fluke, a fluke,
Down to an utter nothing.
The graceful tiller of the seas
Is lost to the breeze!
The spark of animation gone,
Obscuring the form.

Measure and catalogue remains,
But don't call the sum of all a whale --
The sum will surely fail!

A life, a life, a life,
Down to the fossil record.
As all you searching for the stars
Do not look to cars.
Though each cold skeleton exploded
Out from their hearts.

(c) and (p) 2010 Patrick Shea

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from Call Me Ishmael; volume 7, released December 2, 2011

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Patrick Shea Brooklyn, New York

Patrick is a nerd, a book lover, a math afficianado, an Ishmael, and an Ahab. He lives in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. He grew up in Portland, OR; and has also lived in Grinnell, IA (for college); and Austin, TX.

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