Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. Most of his poems were written in free verse, which does not follow any consistent meter or rhyme pattern. He is best remembered for his collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, which he wrote and rewrote several times.
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship was weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores
a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies
Fallen cold and dead.
How does we know that the ship's journey has not been a smooth one?
Describe the scene as the ship draws into the port.
What does the speaker urge the Captain to do?
Describe the Captain's condition.
Why does the sight of the Captain lying dead on the deck seem like a dream to the speaker?
What does the speaker decide to do at the end of the poem?