Farragut
by
William Tuckey Meredith (1839-1920) |
 |
|
FARRAGUT, Farragut,
Old Heart
of Oak,
Daring Dave Farragut,
Thunderbolt stroke,
Watches the hoary mist
Lift from the bay,
Till his
flag, glory-kissed,
Greets the young day.
Far, by
gray Morgan's walls,
Looms the black fleet.
Hark, deck
to rampart calls
With the drums' beat!
Buoy your
chains overboard,
While the steam hums;
Men! to the
battlement,
Farragut comes.
See, as the hurricane
Hurtles in wrath
Squadrons of clouds amain
Back
from its path!
Back to the parapet,
To the guns' lips,
Thunderbolt Farragut
Hurls the black ships.
Now
through the battle's roar
Clear the boy sings,
"By the
mark fathoms four,"
While his lead swings.
Steady the
wheelmen five
"Nor' by East keep her,"
"Steady," but
two alive:
How the shells sweep her!
Lashed to the
mast that sways
Over red decks,
Over the flame that
plays
Round the torn wrecks,
Over the dying lips
Framed for a cheer,
Farragut leads his ships,
Guides
the line clear.
On by heights cannon-browed,
While
the spars quiver;
Onward still flames the cloud
Where
the hulks shiver.
See, yon fort's star is set,
Storm
and fire past.
Cheer him, lads�Farragut,
Lashed to the
mast!
Oh! while Atlantic's breast
Bears a white
sail,
While the Gulf's towering crest
Tops a green
vale,
Men thy bold deeds shall tell,
Old Heart of Oak,
Daring Dave Farragut,
Thunderbolt stroke! |
By William Tuckey Meredith (1839-1920)
Listed January 25, 2013 |
| The poem is about the Battle of
Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864
during the Civil War, and the heroic actions by Navy flag
officer David Farragut. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy.
He is remembered in popular culture for
his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased:
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" by U.S. Navy tradition. |
Poem Use Permission Request
USA Patriotism! cannot
provide use permission for a poem or an author's email address
if not listed below the poem. Only the author or a legal
representative can grant permission. Try a search engine to find the
author's contact information for a use permission request or if
it is available for public use.
Note: Poems authored in the
1700s and 1800s can be used with reference to the author. |
Comment on this poem |
|
| | |
|
|
Heroes and Patriots Poems | Poem Categories |
|
