| |
| THE BOY stood on the burning deck | |
| Whence all but he had fled; | |
| The flame that lit the battle’s wreck | |
| Shone round him o’er the dead. | |
| |
| Yet beautiful and bright he stood, | 5 |
| As born to rule the storm,— | |
| A creature of heroic blood, | |
| A proud though childlike form. | |
| |
| The flames rolled on,—he would not go | |
| Without his father’s word; | 10 |
| That father, faint in death below, | |
| His voice no longer heard. | |
| |
| He called aloud, “Say, father! say, | |
| If yet my task is done!” | |
| He knew not that the chieftain lay | 15 |
| Unconscious of his son. | |
| |
| “Speak, father!” once again he cried, | |
| “If I may yet be gone!” | |
| And but the booming shots replied, | |
| And fast the flame rolled on. | 20 |
| |
| Upon his brow he felt their breath, | |
| And in his waving hair, | |
| And looked from that lone post of death | |
| In still yet brave despair; | |
| |
| And shouted but once more aloud, | 25 |
| “My father! must I stay?” | |
| While o’er him fast, through sail and shroud, | |
| The wreathing fires made way. | |
| |
| They wrapped the ship in splendor wild, | |
| They caught the flag on high, | 30 |
| And streamed above the gallant child | |
| Like banners in the sky. | |
| |
| There came a burst of thunder sound,— | |
| The boy—oh, where was he? | |
| Ask of the winds that far around | 35 |
| With fragments strowed the sea! | |
| |
| With mast and helm and pennon fair, | |
| That well had borne their part, | |
| But the noblest thing which perished there | |
| Was that young faithful heart! | 40 |
| |
