Oh+Captain!+My+Captain!


 * O Captain! My Captain! **

O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; || || O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; || || My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; || || 1. Similar to "Lilacs", this poem too is inspired by Lincoln's death. What imagery and language specifically relates to Lincoln?
 * 1
 * 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. || ||
 * 2
 * 2
 * 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! || ||
 * This arm beneath your [|head]; || ||
 * It is some dream that on the deck, || ||
 * You’ve fallen cold and dead. || ||
 * 3
 * 3
 * 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. ||

2. Early in the poem, does the speaker seem to acknowledge the death of his "Captain" or is he in a state of disbelief? How do we know? What about the end of the poem?

3. Most of Whitman's poems do not use a rhyme scheme or end rhyme. This one does, however. Why do you think the poet chose to do this?