Holmes, Oliver Wendell. "Old Ironsides".

Summary and Analysis

- a poem of response to a newspaper account of the proposed dismantling of the frigate Constitution, victor against the British in the War of 1812

- widely reprinted and credited with saving the ship

- despite the shortness of the poem, it resembles an elegy, it celebrates and at the same times mourns the ship

- the speaker recalls the glorious days of the ship: the people celebrating to see its flag, the battles on her board, the heroes' blood, and the vanquished foe

- never more will the ship experience all this, she will be a prey to the harpies

- the speaker pleads to offer the ship to the god of storms, to let her drift on the sea which should be her grave