THE BOY STOOD ON ..........

After nursery rhymes, my first introduction to verse was probably this, to my child's ears, 'naughty', rather rude rhyme.

The boy stood on the burning deck

Playing a game of cricket,

The ball flew down his trouser leg

And hit his middle wicket.

(Click HERE for an even 'naughtier' version)

Upon 'googling' (or in this instance 'binging') I came across the original verse of CASABIANCA

or as it is probably better known 'The Boy Stood On The Burning Deck' on which 'my' poem is based.

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,

As born to rule the storm;

A creature of heroic blood,

A proud, though childlike 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!"

He knew not that the chieftain lay

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 flames roll'd on.

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 one 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 caught the flag on high,

And stream'd 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

With fragments strewed 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.

I must confess to this being my favourite FreeVerse poem so far but what of it's writer?

Liverpool born Felicia Dorothea Hemans (nee Browne) was born in 1793 and had her first poems (dedicated to the Prince Of Wales) published in 1808.

A woman ahead of her time, her poetry offered a woman's voice confiding a woman's trials with her most successful book, RECORDS OF WOMEN (1828) chronicling the lives of woman both famous as well as anonymous.

(Click HERE to read more.)

FreeVerse is a weekly meme hosted by CARA at Ooh ... Books.