O Captain! My Captain! Poem by Gerhardus Keen

O Captain! My Captain!
Adaptation of Walt Whitman's poem by Gerhardus Keen

O Captain! my Captain! wherefore art thou gone,
The sands of time is running out, the damage has been done,
The flames burns high, the time is nigh, the people all revolting,
While leaders stir with racial hate, to murder - without caring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the farms the bodies lies,
Murdered, tortured and half-dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear our call;
Rise up, for our flag is tainted, together we must stand tall,
For now the people are in despair - in their hearts they all are chanting,
For you they call, the swaying mass, a leader they're a-wanting;
Hear Captain! dear leader!
This plea must reach your ear!
Take charge of our people,
No enemy shall we fear.

My Captain please do answer, this is no time to hide,
Our leader must come forth now, together we will ride,
The country has gone to hell, the enemy thinks that we are done,
But from the ashes we will rise, the battle will be won;
Exult O flock, and ring the bell!
To all it must be said,
Our Country will be free again,
The Captain is not dead.