Old Ironsides Poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
Old Ironsides
Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;
Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar; --
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood,
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee; --
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!
Oh, better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave;
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!
Aside from the wonderful story described by Viking below, man, how awesome to see such a delicately worded, beautiful piece of prose from one of our nations greatest men. I did not even know that Oliver was a poet, and have now discovered he was particularly good at it.... How wonderful it could be if all men tasked with sitting in judgment over a nation saw the world with artist's eyes... I should think the very thing that brought such deep meaning to Ironsides, battles and war, should become a forgotten travesty....
CONGRATULATIONS being chosen as The Modern Poem Of The Day by Poem Hunter and Team 5 Stars and most deserving Modern Poem Of The Day!
'Old Ironsides' goes about patriotism and national pride. The poem laments the decommissioning of the USS Constitution, a renowned frigate known as 'Old Ironsides'
Very pleasant to see you here today 3 September 2023. Your presence is respected by me, Sir
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I couldn't understand why Oliver would feel that way until I read the comment below by Viking Thrice, then it made perfect sense. Thank you, Viking! Where can we go to visit the ship today? Anyone know?
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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9/19/2024 3:12:49 AM # 1.0.0.1119
If I recall correctly, the US Department of the Navy had proposed to destroy the USS Consitution, otherwise known as Old Ironsides. Holmes read about this in a newspaper, and incensed by the report, wrote the poem above in protest. There was a public outcry as a result, and the government decided to scuttle its plans to, well, scuttle the ship. The poem retains great power, doesn't it?
ABSOLUTELY, dear Viking Thrice, greatest luck that you put these informations here, thank you so much!