Welcome to the Glencoe High Creative Writing Website!

O Captain! MyCaptain!
By Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain!  our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered ever 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 the bouquets and ribboned wreaths-- for you the shores accrowding,
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 or will,
The ship is anchored and 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.