Old Ironsides Analysis - Literary contraptions and Poetic devices Old Ironsidesby Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Ay, remove her worn ensign out! Long has it waved on high? Moreover, various an eye has moved to see That standard in the sky; Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the weapon's thunder;— The meteor of the ocean air Shall clear the fogs no more!Her deck, when red with holy people's blood Where bowed the vanquished adversary, When winds were surging o'er the flood And waves were white underneath, No more will feel the victor's track, Or know the vanquished knee;— The vixens of the shore will separate The bird of prey of the sea!O, better that her broke mass Should sink underneath the wave; Her thunders shook the convincing significant, And there should be her grave; Nail to the shaft her superb flag, Set each string uncovered sail, And offer her to the perfect power of storms,— The lightning and the tropical storm! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).
