Captain! we often heretofore Have boxt behind the coach-house door, When thy strong paws were rear'd against My ribs and bosom, badly fenced: None other dared to try thy strength, And hurl thee side-long at full length, But we well knew each other's mind, And paid our little debts in kind. I often braved with boyish fist The vanquisht bull's antagonist, And saw unsheath'd thy tiny teeth And the dark cell that oped beneath. Thou wert like others of the strong, But only more averse from wrong; Reserved, and proud perhaps, but just, And strict and constant to thy trust, Somewhat inclement to the poor, Suspecting each for evil-doer, But hearing reason when I spoke, And letting go the ragged cloak. Thee dared I; but I never dar'd To drive the pauper from the yard. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DARWINISM by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON FRATER AVE ATQUE VALE by ALFRED TENNYSON WRITTEN IN BUTLER'S SERMONS by MATTHEW ARNOLD IN ENVY OF COWS by JOSEPH AUSLANDER THE SHEPHERD'S PIPE: DEDICATION TO EDWARD, LORD ZOUCH by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) TO ROBERT GRAHAM OF FINTRY by ROBERT BURNS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 2. SQUINANCY-WORT by EDWARD CARPENTER INSCRIPTIONS FOR A SEAT BY THE ROAD SIDE HALF-WAY UP A STEEP HILL by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |