Old Ironsides
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
1809 to 1894
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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Or know the conquered knee;—
That banner in the sky;
Should sink beneath the wave;
And burst the cannon's roar;—
Her deck, once red with heroes' blood
O, better that her shattered hulk
Nail to the mast her holy flag,
And many an eye has danced to see
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more!
Set every thread-bare sail,
And there should be her grave;
Beneath it rung the battle shout,
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
And give her to the god of storms,—
The lightning and the gale!
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
Long has it waved on high,
The eagle of the sea!
The harpies of the shore shall pluck