Oh, Captain! My Captain.

[Jarhead]

Just read. No need to reply. On that dreadful day fifty years ago we found on a table in the middle of the office a Naval Officer's cap, a photo of President Jack Kennedy, and a framed copy of:


O Captain! My Captain!
By Walt Whitman

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! 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!
The 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.

[davekay1971]

Excellent post.

We should always mourn and remember the assassination of a US President. Despite the rancor in today's politics, the men (and, I expect, someday soon, women) who have led and lead our country, should be honored for their accomplishments and their desire and willingness to stand in harm's way to try to guide this nation in the way they feel is best. Whatever disagreements we may have with our Presidents, regarding policy, theory, priorities, and even their human flaws, we should always honor the simple fact that these people have willingly taken on a job with a 10% assassination rate, and most, if not all, of them have done so largely because they feel they can help make a great country better.

[Kimist]

You might also wish to visit Poem Read

Of course, this mention ALWAYS has its own special merit! Dead Poets Society

k

[Jarhead]

You might also wish to visit Poem Read

Of course, this mention ALWAYS has its own special merit! Dead Poets Society

k

Dead Poets Society? I think you missed my point.

[Kimist]

Dead Poets Society? I think you missed my point.

Well, two can play that game.

The cited poem was written by Walt Whitman in 1865 to honor the death of President Abraham Lincoln.

Nuttin' ever to do with JFK.

But if someone wishes to use the classic poem to remember JFK, or to form a nice storyline for a successful movie, then so be it.

k

[Jarhead]

Well, two can play that game.

The cited poem was written by Walt Whitman in 1865 to honor the death of President Abraham Lincoln.

Nuttin' ever to do with JFK.

But if someone wishes to use the classic poem to remember JFK, or to form a nice storyline for a successful movie, then so be it.

k

On the fiftieth anniversary of the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy I found comfort in remembering that, on that tragic day in 1963, an unknown Marine found a framed photo of President Kennedy, a Naval officer's cap, and a framed copy of Walt Whitman's poem to display on a table for all to see. I did not expect remarks such as yours, and am offended by them.