Old Ironsides
Oliver Wendell Holmes
| 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; | |
| 5 | 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, | |
| 10 | 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— | |
| 15 | 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, | |
| 20 | 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! |
Making Meanings
Old Ironsides
1. Do you think that historical relics like Old Ironsides should be preserved? If, very soon, Old Ironsides were found to be in danger of sinking at its dock in Boston, do you think most Americans would let it go? Give reasons why or why not.
2. In simple terms, what message does the first stanza present? What is ironic about the way Holmes states his message?
3. When a ship is broken up in the dockyards, it is said to be scrapped—that is, stripped of everything valuable or reusable. Is Holmes comparing the directors of the scrapping business to harpies in stanza 2, or is his scorn directed at someone else? Explain.
4. What do you think the poet wants the ship to symbolize?
5. Why do you think this poem was successful in getting the public to save the ship? Point out specific words and phrases that you found particularly persuasive.
6. Think about specific issues in today’s world that have inspired public movements for preservation. Do you think a poem like “Old Ironsides” would be able to sway public opinion today? Why or why not?