Casabianca
Felicia Dorothea Hemans
1793 to 1835
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The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence ______ but him had fled;
The flame that lit the battle's wreck
Shone round him o'er the dead.
Yet ______ and bright he stood,
As born to rule ______ storm;
A creature of heroic blood,
A proud, ______ child-like form.
The flames roll'd on—he would not go
Without his Father's word;
That Father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.
He call'd aloud:—"Say, Father, say
If yet my task is done?"
______ knew not that the chieftain lay
Unconscious of ______ son.
"Speak, Father!" once again he cried
"If I may yet begone!
And"—but the booming shots replied,
And fast the flames roll'd on.
Upon his brow ______ felt their breath,
And in his waving hair,
______ looked from that lone post of death,
In ______ yet brave despair.
And shouted but once more aloud,
"My Father, must I stay?"
While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud,
The wreathing fires made way,
They wrapt the ship in splendour wild,
They ______ the flag on high,
And streamed above the gallant child,
Like banners in the sky.
There came a ______ of thunder sound—
The boy—oh! where was he?
______ of the winds that far around
With fragments ______ the sea!
With mast, and helm, and pennon fair,
That well had borne their part—
But the noblest ______ which perished there
Was that young faithful heart!