On this day in 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Walt Whitman wrote this poem to help console a grieving nation.
O Captain! My Captain!
By Walt Whitman
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
The arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
5 comments:
Is that an actual photograph? Or a photoshopped one? It looks like it was taken yesterday.
It almost freaks me out in its clarity.
Bitty -
I found the image through a Google Image search. The providence of the photo isn't given, but I strongly suspect it has been "colorized"
I agree it is freaky clear. It struck me immediately when I saw it. It makes him seem more "real" to me than seeing a cloudy black and white.
I like it, though. And the poem.
That's two poems I'm familiar with now. Come up with a new one to me. I'm sure you can.
Ahhhh! A Challenge!!
I was sure this one would be well known, but it seemed appropriate for the day.
That is a great picture of Lincoln. Nice poem too. I find it funny and strange that we have a statue in our downtown of Abraham Lincoln. Never could find someone to explain the reasoning behind why the statue was placed here in the northwest. Did you ever see the PBS special on Lincoln? They thought he might have been bipolar. Hope you had a nice Monday. I enjoyed a vacation day away from work.
Post a Comment