O Captain! My Captain

 

1 O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;l

The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;l

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,l

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:l

But O heart! heart! heart!l

O the bleeding drops of red,l

Where on the deck my Captain lies,l

Fallen cold and dead.l

2 O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;l

Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills;l

For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding;l

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;l

Here Captain! dear father!l

This arm beneath your head;l

It is some dream that on the deck,l

You've fallen cold and dead.l

3 My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;l

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;l

The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;l

From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;l

Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!l

But I, with mournful tread,l

Walk the deck my Captain lies,l

Fallen cold and dead.l

      Walt Whitman