Animal Products and "The Song of the Whale" - Kit Wright

Read the poem and answer the following questions:

How did you feel as you read the poem?

What do you think of the poet's ideas? Do you agree? Why or why not?

What are your favourite images in the poem? Why did you choose them?

What do you think of the sound of the poem? (rhyme, rhythm, repetition, tone, etc)

How does the poem connect with your personal life?

What would you say to the poet about this poem if you had the chance?

What do you think the poem is saying?

"The Song of the Whale" - Kit Wright

Heaving mountain in the sea,

Whale, I heard you

Grieving.

Great whale crying for your life,

Crying for your kind, I knew

How we would use

Your dying:

Lipstick for our painted faces,

Polish for our shoes.

Tumbling mountain in the sea,

Whale I heard you

Calling.

Bird-high notes, kenning, soaring:

At their edge a tiny drum

Like a heartbeat.

We would make you

Dumb.

In the forest of the sea,

Whale I heard you

Singing,

Singing to your kind.

We’ll never let you be.

Instead of life we choose

Lipstick for our painted faces,

Polish for our shoes.