Here is my emulation of the famous Walt Whitman poem, “Captain! My Captain!” In Whitman’s piece, the poem presents connections to the assassination of president Lincoln. In my piece, I decided to make a more nautical epic, describing the tale of a seafaring crew of sailors.
If you are unfamiliar with the original poem, here is a link to read it: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45474
“…for there is nothing mysterious to a seaman unless it be the sea itself, which is the mistress of his existence…” – Joseph Conrad
O Captain! my Captain! a storm is soon to come
The ship is fighting every wave, the crew is sick and dumb;
The open sea, kills the free, yet challenges the daring,
To test our might against its wrath, the Sea God is a’staring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the dripping beads of sweat,
Where at the helm my Captain stands,
to take Poseidon’s bet.
O Captain! my Captain! stand fast and hold your ground;
Rise up! – for you the crew resumes – for you they stick around;
For you the sails are pulled a’hoist – for you the sky sheds tear;
For you the waves, they crash and bend, their power instills no fear;
Here Captain! dear father!
This ship beneath your feet;
It is some dream that at the helm,
You’re laughing at defeat.
My Captain does not answer, his eyes are wild and red;
My father does not feel the sea, that craves to have him dead;
The vessel high upon a wave, its voyage far from done;
Our fearful trip, the failing ship, Poseidon knows he’s won;
Exult, O Gods, and pray, O men!
But I with mournful tread,
Firm at helm my Captain cries,
“Brace for waves ahead!”
No man knows the tale of my Captain’s last attempt;
How he left the sea god vexed, full of new contempt;
The crew unsealed, their eyes revealed, the storm was now a’passing,
And at the helm stood you there, your mighty will surpassing;
O heart! heart! heart!
O the cheers of all your men,
O Captain! my Captain! at the helm,
You’ve beat the Gods again.
Kumpf, Todd. “Captains Log.” Image. toddkumpf Unknown. Jan. 8, 2016. <http://www.toddkumpf.com/index.php?id=ship_storm>