Whenever I write about whale carcasses in my poems, they usually involve a character in the poem actually physically going into the carcass and staying inside it.
So for me, the whale carcasses symbolize a place of refuge or an escape from the pains of ordinary life, a place where the characters can find shelter inside of something so much bigger than them.
Some people say that being compared to something that is so much larger in size makes them feel small and alone, but for my characters, it’s the exact opposite. Being inside those huge whale carcasses makes them feel comfortable and safe.
:)