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by Marriott Edgar (1937)
Illustrations by John Hassall
Q: Why did the whale cross the road?
A: To get to the other tide!
An orcinus orca is the posh name for a 'killer whale', formerly known as a 'grampus'.
This monologue is clear reference to Jonah and the whale story in the Bible (Jonah 1:17) and the Qur'an (Sura 37:139-148).
It's not easy to prove what actually happened to Jonah nearly three thousand years ago, and modern opinion is divided whether God created a special sea creature capable of swallowing a man, who could emerge after three days unharmed, or whether the whole story is an allegory. Christians believe Jonah's restoration after three days inside the whale (KJV) or great fish (other versions) prefigured the resurrection of Jesus Christ after three days in the tomb.
But whatever really did happen to Jonah, it's most unlikely that he came, as this poem states, from Wigan!
I'll tell you the story of Jonah, The weather were grand when they started, When the ship started pitching and tossing When the sailors saw what he were doing | |
Said one "Is there nowt you can think on The sailor were not one to argue, A Grampus came up at that moment, Its manner were kindly and pleading, The inside of Grampus surprised him, |
Jonah in mouth of Grampus |
Then over the sea they went cruising, "I'm tired of watching," said Jonah, At that moment up came a whale boat, The water came in through the spy-'ole |
Jonah tried 'ard to bail out the water, When at finish they came to the surface Said the Grampus, "We're in shallow water, So Jonah obeyed these instructions, |
Jonah walks back to Wigan |
Jonah waves good-bye to Grampus |
There was tears in their eyes when they parted |