O Captain, My Captain

O Captain, My Captain

 - Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.



O Captain! my Captain!  rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up - for you the flag is hung - for you the bugle trills;

For you the bouquets and ribboned wreathes - for you the shores a-crowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

Hear Captain! dear Father!

The arm beneath your head!

It is some dream that on the deck,

You've fallen cold and dead.



My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

Exult, O shores, and ring O bells!

But I with mournful tread,

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.





이 시는 링컨 대통령이 남북 전쟁을 성공리에 마치고, 한 자객의 총에 맞아 쓰러진 것을 애통하게 생각하며 그 충격과 비애를 노래한 시이다.

링컨의 남북 전쟁 수행을 '위험한 항해'에 비유하고 있으므로, 나라는 함정이 되고, 링컨 대통령은 그 함정의 함장으로 비유될 수 있다.

흑인 해방이라는 대명분의 기치를 달고 출항했던 링컨호는 갖은 난관을 극복하고 마침내 승리하고 돌아오게 된다. 항구에 울려퍼지는 환호의 물결..
 
모두가 승리의 배를 맞아 들뜬 함성으로 환영하는 물결이 넘실대는 가운데, 그러나 정작 환영의 주인공은 갑판에 쓰러져 싸늘한 시체가 되어가고 있었던 것...