35. The White Whale Rises | Act V: The Chase and the Silence

[Verse 1]
I heard his plea to turn towards the shore,
And felt a life I'd lost knock at my door.
Then from the mast a cry cut through the spray,
And all that gentler morning fell away.

[Verse 2]
Across the waves a towering whiteness gleams,
The shape that stalked my waking hours and dreams.
His back breaks through the water, broad and white,
The scar within me answers to the sight.

[Chorus]
The white whale rises, vast against the sea,
And all my wounded years return to me.
I set my will upon his foaming wake,
And hold it fast through every blow I take.

[Verse 3]
I take my place; the boats descend as one,
Our oars bite through the water in the sun.
I raise the iron, aiming at his side,
And hurl it as he turns against the tide.

[Verse 4]
Moby Dick turns beneath our narrow keel,
The whole boat shudders with the force I feel.
His back comes up; the timbers split apart,
And older rage comes beating through my heart.

[Chorus]
The white whale rises, vast against the sea,
And all my wounded years return to me.
I set my will upon his foaming wake,
And hold it fast through every blow I take.

[Verse 5]
I break the surface, choking on the spray,
And hands reach down to draw me clear away.
My boat lies shattered by his sudden might,
Yet all my will remains prepared to fight.

[Verse 6]
At night he slips beyond my straining sight,
But I shall seek him with the morning light.
The boat is gone; my purpose holds its course,
And every blow has only fed its force.

[Chorus]
The white whale rises, vast against the sea,
And all my wounded years return to me.
I set my will upon his foaming wake,
And hold it fast through every blow I take.

[Outro]
Night closes on the wreckage of this day,
But cannot wash my purpose clean away.
I hear the old wound in the breakers' roar,
And know tomorrow I shall hunt once more.

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[The Scene] With Starbuck’s heartfelt appeal to return home still unanswered, a cry from the masthead announces the sighting of Moby Dick, shattering Ahab’s brief moment of reflection. The captain immediately orders the whaleboats lowered and personally leads the first attack against the creature that has haunted him for years. As the boats close upon their quarry, the enormous white whale turns upon Ahab’s vessel and smashes it apart, throwing him into the sea. Although rescued from the wreckage, Ahab remains consumed by his determination to destroy Moby Dick. The possibility of abandoning his obsession has vanished, and as darkness brings the first day’s pursuit to an end, he prepares to renew the chase at dawn, drawing the Pequod and her crew ever closer to catastrophe. [Verse 1] I heard his plea to turn towards the shore, And felt a life I'd lost knock at my door. Then from the mast a cry cut through the spray, And all that gentler morning fell away. [Verse 2] Across the waves a towering whiteness gleams, The shape that stalked my waking hours and dreams. His back breaks through the water, broad and white, The scar within me answers to the sight. [Chorus] The white whale rises, vast against the sea, And all my wounded years return to me. I set my will upon his foaming wake, And hold it fast through every blow I take. [Verse 3] I take my place; the boats descend as one, Our oars bite through the water in the sun. I raise the iron, aiming at his side, And hurl it as he turns against the tide. [Verse 4] Moby Dick turns beneath our narrow keel, The whole boat shudders with the force I feel. His back comes up; the timbers split apart, And older rage comes beating through my heart. [Chorus] The white whale rises, vast against the sea, And all my wounded years return to me. I set my will upon his foaming wake, And hold it fast through every blow I take. [Verse 5] I break the surface, choking on the spray, And hands reach down to draw me clear away. My boat lies shattered by his sudden might, Yet all my will remains prepared to fight. [Verse 6] At night he slips beyond my straining sight, But I shall seek him with the morning light. The boat is gone; my purpose holds its course, And every blow has only fed its force. [Chorus] The white whale rises, vast against the sea, And all my wounded years return to me. I set my will upon his foaming wake, And hold it fast through every blow I take. [Outro] Night closes on the wreckage of this day, But cannot wash my purpose clean away. I hear the old wound in the breakers' roar, And know tomorrow I shall hunt once more.

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