O Captain My Captain

O Captain! My Captain!

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BY WALT WHITMAN

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, a

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won, a

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

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; b

                         But O heart! heart! heart! C

                            O the bleeding drops of red, c

                               Where on the deck my Captain lies, d

                                  Fallen cold and dead. c

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; a

Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills, a

For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding, b

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

                         Here Captain! dear father! C

                            This arm beneath your head! D

                               It is some dream that on the deck, c

                                 You’ve fallen cold and dead. D

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, a

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

The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, b

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

                         Exult O shores, and ring O bells! C

                            But I with mournful tread, d

                               Walk the deck my Captain lies, c

                                  Fallen cold and dead. D

                 First of all I chose this poem because I have read this and memorized a small part of it when I was in middle school. After Ms. Guarino's class about how a poem works with rhyme schemes, I was curious about poems I've read before knowing all these details about poetry. Therefore, I went back looking for this poem wanting to know if what I've read before could also apply to this technique. It was a little bit confusing to tell the rhyme schemes, because there is always one sentence in each stanza that does not have the same ending letter. After reading it out, it sounded similar to the previous word, so I'm even more confused. Overall, I really like this poem not just because I felt more familiar with it, but it is a little bit challenging for me to tell the rhyme schemes and also how it sounded powerful. 

               The author Whiteman was a nurse during the war and this captain he said in the poetry is Lincoln. He wrote this poem to mourn and memorize Abraham Lincoln as his hero that passed away. This poetry is related to history and is very touching at some point I think. Not like how we see our leaders and president these days on screen. What Whiteman have seen as a person working in war, he saw Lincoln going to work everyday, so what he felt towards Lincold was not only admiration. He respects him and hoped everything including his country and leader could heal after the war. 

           Basically, this poem is describing what the country have been through the hardness and now as the victory have arrived, their father—leader—Which is Lincoln had passed away because of assassination. This poem was also written with rhyme schemes as I labeled myself beside each ending of the sentences.