O Captain, My Captain!

O Captain My Captain
         by Walt Whitman

O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered 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 ribboned 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 anchored 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.


Annotate this poem.

For whom had Whitman written this poem. Review last 15 minutes of PBS's 2009 American Experience "Walt Whitman", by Mark Zwonitzer to help if you can't figure out to whom this was written.

Due 2-3-11 (P2, P5, and P7)
Due 2-4-11 (P3 and P8)

Time Management: What can I do today to lighten my expectations tomorrow? Organization: Empty everything out of your bookbag, look over your Agenda. Tackle assignments in order of DUE DATE, difficulty, importance. Make a To Do List: checking off things done every so often Play: Get exercise EVERY SINGLE DAY