This excerpt is from Walt Whitman's poem "O Captain! My Captain!" which serves as an elegy for President Abraham Lincoln following his assassination. The poem captures the contrasting emotions of triumph and loss, celebrating the end of the Civil War and the victory of the Union while mourning the death of a beloved leader. The ship metaphorically represents the nation, weathering the trials and tribulations of the conflict, while the captain symbolizes Lincoln himself. The repetition of "O heart! heart! heart!" emphasizes the deep sorrow felt by the speaker as they confront the grim reality of their loss. If you'd like to discuss the themes further or explore the poem's significance, feel free to ask!
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,The ship has 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! our fearful trip is done,The ship has 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.
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