Poetry that Saved a Famous Ship

A good poem can bring out the emotions and lead the masses to change the minds of politicians. Here is the emotional poetry of Oliver Wendell Holmes that was designed to stop the government from deep sixing the famous Naval ship, Old Ironsides. His first popular poem was Old Ironsides,
which he wrote in 1830 as a patriotic protest against the decision of the Secretary of Navy to destroy the fighting ship The USS Constitution (popularly known as Old Ironsides).

I was required to memorize this poem and other patriotic writings in elementary school.Maybe that is why my heart stirs when I sing America the Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner. So, as an elementary school teacher I had my students also memorize the same songs and poems.

Old Ironsides

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;

Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon’s roar; —
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.

Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o’er the flood,
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor’s tread,
Or know the conquered knee; —

The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!
Oh, better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave;

Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!

What poetry did you learn in school?