Walt Whitman (31 May 1819 - 26 March 1892 / New York / United States)

‘O Captain! My Captain! ’ by Walt Whitman is an absolutely brilliant poem, so much to like and appreciate. From the opening lines 'O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; / The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; ' comes a sense of surprise that the ship has survived the perils of this terrible journey, intensified with the weather'd metaphor, that the ship has endured the hardships of every rack.
The contrast of the safe port so near with bells heard and 'the people all exulting, ' to 'follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: ' sets up the shock of 'Where on the deck my Captain lies, / Fallen cold and dead.' This imagery links Abraham Lincoln to the shock loss of countless thousands who were slain upon Civil War battlefields. The intensity of the loss, echoes all the parents, siblings suffering who lost loved ones. The heart torn moan 'But O heart! heart! heart! / O the bleeding drops of red, ' seems to speak for Lincoln, all soldiers and casualties of the Civil War, and the bleeding state of the union. The symbolism suggests the nation is still bleeding.
The importance of the captain was immediately proclaimed with the first two words capitalized O CAPTAIN then the seeming sob of the personalized lower case ‘my Captain! ’, both outbursts heightened with exclamation marks, before the 'our fearful trip is done; ' highlighting the bond of companionship of shared dangers.
This is still only the first stanza, yet the 'steady keel' of the captains leadership is solidly established, while 'the vessel grim and daring: ' suggests both the resolute course sailed and the personality of Lincoln. Walt Whitman is a favourite master for all who read the rich depths of his words.

I am glad (in regards to mr. brookes comment) that not all of us can be Whitmans. The world would be so boring if everyone wrote like Walt. Only one of his poems sticks in my mind, this one about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The rest of his work is quite forgettable.

Seems to me there are too many people trying to show of there knowledge. This is a fine piece of writing by a master poet and one we should aspire to. However to put people's poetry down because its not up to this standard is ridiculous. I'm probably one of the writers that is being talked of in that way (notice I never said poet) We all have to learn and for me reading such poetry gives me such a buzz and teaches me what good poetry is, having said that we can't all be Whitmans. Sometimes just enjoy a poem without pontificating and just say Hey this is great and leave it at that! ! !

we have this poem in our school I like it

this peom is stupid i dont like it whatsoever

have to recite it in school but it is alright kinda sad though

Brings back memories of my grade school years at San Beda College.

I love this poem! ! I memorize it because it has a lot of emotion! It is one of my favorites :)

Greatest Elegy ever written! ! !

my first whitman poem... i watched the notebook recently and his name was mentioned... can someone recomend theyre favourite poem of his pleeeease....