Exegesis of the First Words Spoken (Ishmael)

Scholar-on-waves, a water-gazer, Call me Ishmael. Re-enter my own life. Waves: they murmur, babble, waves Do not articulate what the ocean Turning in its bed thinks: What must be said. Sing above or sing Below The knot in the plank, the cursive Pine-grain Of my life in the bow and my life Bay-less in the bowels Of the bow I signed myself on as me to become more so myself— A study, one volume of 36 signatures, 576 pages (9 blank for notes), And became dispossessed of all but one mis- spoken leaf— Pro- and epilogue both.Sign your mark. I do Find the escape Clause titled in fine print, watermarked, on condition Of being or becoming: me Tar-dark, thumbless or thumbed, Ocean eats the nib of pen But a nub dipped in pitch Sing above or sing below The wave’s back Broken by another wave There is no air besides A nub dipped in pitch Can’t help But write, beneath the sea-hawk’s wing The sea-hawk’s cry,Sign your mark With a nail, a splinter, a harpoon In the hand can’t help But Sing above and sing below But write but What song strides surface tension Help but write Thirst chokes and salt slakes A contract for a name Of being or becoming Ink on the line, a name or a contract For a name, a thumbprint, or I Signed me on on my name alone: Now Profit Now Leak Now Bury Now Speak.