we have no one
but each other
this long night
is overtaking us
we’re whales
singing all alone
in this dark sea
trying to find
each other
in this big storm
oh, we’re singing
about blue skies
about bountiful
satisfying times
about rubbing
bodies and tails
oh, they got us
right this time
we’re harpooned
we’re going down
falling straight
down in a pool
of warm blood
singing as we fall
brothers, sisters
ram their ships
make them pay
for the blood
they consciously
are willing to spill
they’re pulling us
up to their decks
we see their greed
on the long knives
we’re not yet dead
but we’re being cut
into mindless pieces
seagulls are plucking
both of our open eyes
oh, we’re now singing
our last whale songs
calling out all whales:
oh, Father Sun, take
us into your hands
oh, Mother Sea, guard
the entrails they toss
discard to the waves.
oh, ancient whales
of the Arizona sea
desert, we call out
for your mighty
healing powers
make our nation
whole again
a welcoming
open sea to all
oh, sky whales
oh, sea whales
oh, land whales
oh, spirit whales
oh, whales
from the past
oh, whales
from the future
we call out
for you to undo
the wounds
they’ve done
set us free
all unharmed
we’ll praise
sing forever
the precious
gifts of this sky
of this land
this vast sea
that’s always
been ours
Published in the Floricanto Issue, Volume 13:1, Winter, 2012. “Whale Songs” is reprinted from Zyzzyva, Volume XXVI, Number 3, Fall 2010, with permission from the author.
Francisco X. Alarcón (February 21, 1954 - January 15, 2016) was born in California and grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. His books of poems include: Ce Uno One: Poems for the New Sun / Poemas para el Nuevo Sol (Swan Scythe Press, 2010), From the Other Side of Night/Del otro lado de la noche: New and Selected Poems (University of Arizona Press, 2002), Sonnets to Madness and Other Misfortunes/Sonetos a la locura y ottos peans (Creative Arts Book Co., 2001), Snake Poems: An Aztec Invocation (Chronicle Books, 1992), and Body in Flames: Cuerpo en llamas (Chronicle Books, 1990). He also wrote several poetry books for children. Alarcón's honors include the 1998 American Library Association's Honor for Latino Literature, 1984 Chicano Literary Prize, the 1993 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award. He founded the Facebook page, "Poets Responding to SB 1070," taught in the California Poets in the Schools Program, and directed the Spanish for Native Speakers program at the University of California, Davis.