Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 3.145.130.31
From Email:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
'Twas about the beginning of the present century, Bill Bowls was pressed, and sent to sea; And conveyed on board the Waterwitch without delay, Scarce getting time to bid farewell to the villagers of Fairway · And once on board the "Waterwitch," he resolved to do his duty, And God willing, he'd marry Nelly Blyth, the village beauty; And he'd fight for Old England, like a jolly British tar, But he'd think of Nelly Blyth during the war. The poor fellow little imagined what he had to go through, But in ail his trials at sea, he never did rue; No; the brave tar became reconciled to his fate, And he felt proud of his commander, Captain Ward the great. And on board the "Waterwitch" was Tom Riggles, his old comrade, And with such a one as Tom Riggles he seldom felt afraid, Because the stories they told on board made the time fly away, And made the hearts of their messmates feel light and gay. 'Twas on a sunny morning, and clear to the view, Captain Ward the close attention of his men he drew: Look ! he cried, there's two Frenchmen of war on our right, Therefore, prepare my men immediately to commence the fight. Then the "Waterwitch" was steered to the ship most near, While every man resolved to sell his life most dear; But the French commander, disinclined to commence the fight, Ordered his men to put on a press of canvas and take to flight. But Captain Ward quickly gave the order to fire, Then Bill Bowls cried, Now we'll get fighting to our heart's desire! And for an hour and more a running fight was maintained, Until the two ships of the enemy near upon the "Waterwitch" gained. Captain Ward walked the deck with a firm tread, When a shot from the enemy pierced the ship's side above his head; And with a splinter Bill Bowls was wounded on the left arm, And he cried, Death to the frog-eaters! they have done me little harm. Then Captain Ward cried, Fear not, we will win the day, Now, courage my men, pour in broadsides without delay; Then they sailed round the "St. Denis" and the "Gloire," And in at their cabin windows they poured a deadly fire. The effect on the two ships was fearful to behold, But still the Frenchmen stuck to their guns with courage, be it told; And the crash and din of artillery was deafening to the ear, And the cries of the wounded men on deck were pitiful to hear. Then Captain Ward to his men did say, We must board these French ships without dismay; Then he seized his cutlass, ashe fearlessly spoke, And jumped on board the "St. Denis" in the midst of the smoke. Then Bill Bowls and Tom Riggles quickly followed him, Then hand to hand the battle in earnest did begin; And the men sprang upon their foes and beat them back, And they hauled down their colours, and hoisted the Union Jack. But the men on board the "St. Denis" fought desperately hard, But, alas! as the "St Denis" was captured, a ball struck Captain Ward Right on the forehead, and he fell dead with a groan, And for the death of Captain Ward the sailors did cry and moan. Then the first lieutenant, who was standing by, Loudly to the men did cry: Come men, and carry your noble commander to his cabin below, But there is one consolation, we have beaten the foe. And thus fell Captain Ward in the prime of his life, And I hope he is now in the better land, free from strife: But, alas! 'tis sad to think he was buried in the mighty deep, Where too many of our brave seamen do silently sleep. The "St. Denis" and the "Gloire" were towed to Gibraltar, the nearest port, But by capturing of them, they felt but little sport, Because, for the loss of Captain Ward, the men felt woebegone, Because in bravery, they said, he was next to Admiral Nelson.
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required