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!
This 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.
Notes
April 15, 1865
Abraham Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth, almost exactly four years after the first shot was fired at Fort Sumter.
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Abraham Lincoln
"His gaze, though somewhat abstracted, was directed steadily in my eye." From an essay Whitman wrote on Abraham Lincoln when Whitman lived in Washington, and saw Lincoln almost daily. Lincoln was the reason the Civil War was fought. The melancholy that permeated Lincolns 56 years of life finally disappeared after he had made certain the United States would remain ONE COUNTRY. He had accomplished the immense and awful task higher forces had assigned him and his role on Earth was done. -
All for a project
From guest Brandon Conklin (contact)
AMAZING!!!! Ive always loves this poem from the first time i read it in the 5th grade -
It was nice to find it...
From guest Lucida (contact)
Since I know the film "Dead Poets Society", I've always wanted to read it in English! I'm studying English Literature at the University in Spain. In this poem lies my interest in poetry and in Northamerican Literature :D:D It was nice to find it, thank you! -
'Captain' of course is Abraham Lincoln, assassinated as the American Civil War came to an end. His grief is evident - I feel that he's havin g a difficult time realising that his man who he revers so much is dead. In the final stanza I do believe that reality has hit home and he moves with 'mourneful tread'.
Von -
I really love this poem. Our English teacher explained the meaning of it to us last her and I'm glad he did because I never would've know what it was about. But this really is a great poem. Truly is. Whitman was a brilliant poet.
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Amazing Poem!!
From guest Hannah (contact)
Whitman was an amazing author. he describes the death of Licoln SO well. its sad and emotional, but whitman did an excellent job. this is definitley my favorite whitman peom, and im a HUGE fan of "dead poets society" -
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I have always loved this poem. And definitely for my love for Dead Poets Society, this poem holds special place in my heart. Not only for the significance it may have been written for, but surely two poems really taught me poetry. That is Ulysses and this one.. I just so love it.
Regards Sam
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This holds great memories from childhood.
This was once of the first poems introduced to me by a teacher in grade school. When I read it aloud to the class, I tried to invoke in my speech what it must have been like to write something about a president that he admired so much. I still think this is his most memorable masterpiece. It was very effective in the entire piece of how Mr. Whitman and others viewed Mr. Lincoln.
rose
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Actually, this poem was considered a classic, but it has since dropped in critical stature, much like 'Annabel Lee' by Poe. Whitman's 'Song of Myself' is now generally considered his masterpiece.
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I believe and have read that this is about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the emotions that Whitman had of his death.
It's an emotional piece on Whitman's point, as if he last a part of his own heart when he died.
An excellent piece that he has written here.
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I love the idea that Whitman writes about that the flag is flung and the bugle trills for Abraham Lincoln. The victory and celebrations of peace were for him and by him. I think it's a very powerful piece and illustrates the vital role that Mr. Lincoln played in the civil war. It happens to be my favorite poem mostly due to the repetition that Whitman uses of "fallen cold and dead". Simple words, but filled with depression despite the ceasing of the War between the states. A wonderful poem, the best in my opinion!
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This is one of my favorite poems. I love how they use a ship, it's very symbolic, of how the captain dies just as they are pulling into port after a horrible journey out at see, just like in the Civil War.
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I so love this poem, and everything it represents. So sad that Abraham lincoln had to die as soon as we one the war, after he had led us through all of our trials and tribulations. I guess his job here was done, as much as could be expected. This is a very good poem, one of my favorites. The other one is Charge of the light brigade, which i don't think this author wrote, I think it was Alfred Lord Tennison that wrote it, but i can never be sure, knowing me. Any very good poem, and describes the after effects of the war quite spledidly.
Tiphanie -
neutral
so sad,,,
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