A Whale of a Tale

Enjoying his life far out in the sea,
Walter the Whale was so glad to be free.
He just swam about in the waves all the day-
Sometimes he’d turn over and send up some spray.

When he wanted some fun, after fish he would chase,
Or challenge a sea-horse to have a long race.
Then one day some sailors caught Walter asleep,
And soon hauled him out of the watery deep.

When Walter awoke he was very upset,
To find himself caught in a tight-woven net.
There on the beach crowds of people came down,
To see a live whale come ashore in their town.

A tank was provided to put Walter in,
And folks paid a shilling to touch the whale’s fin.
Poor Walter was gloomy and soon he got thinner,
One night came a boy who felt sad for the whale,
Who hardly had room to flick round his large tail.

When no one was looking he broke up the glass
And Walter fell out on the sand with a crash.
He slithered along till he came to the sea
How happy he was once again to be free.

He swam far away from the lights on the shore,
Vowing he’d never be caught any more.

∼ Porter G., Hilda Offen, Pradera, Esma Eve, Alan Jesset, Richard Hooke