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Old Ironsides

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

Topics: classic

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!

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"Ay, tear her tattered ensign down..."

This evocative piece by Oliver Wendell Holmes, titled "Old Ironsides", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Ay, tear her tattered ensign down..." by Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Oliver Wendell Holmes

About Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809–1894) was an American poet, physician, and essayist. His poems "Old Ironsides" and "The Chambered Nautilus" are American classics. He was part of the Fireside Poets group.

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"The house was crammed from roof to floor,     Head..."

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