O Captain! My Captain!

Walt Whitman · 24 lines · about 12 minutes to learn

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Quick facts about “O Captain! My Captain!”

Author
Walt Whitman
First line
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
Length
24 lines in 3 stanzas
Time to learn
about 12 minutes

Questions about “O Captain! My Captain!”

Who wrote “O Captain! My Captain!”?

“O Captain! My Captain!” was written by Walt Whitman.

What is the first line of “O Captain! My Captain!”?

The first line of “O Captain! My Captain!” is: “O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,”

How long is “O Captain! My Captain!”?

“O Captain! My Captain!” is 24 lines long, in 3 stanzas.

How long does it take to memorize “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Plan on about 12 minutes in the Memorizun trainer, which hides words and letters step by step so you recall the text instead of rereading it. A few short sessions on separate days help it stick.

What is the best way to memorize “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Read it aloud once or twice, then use the trainer to hide more of the text each round until you can say it without looking. Learn it stanza by stanza, then join the stanzas together. Review it again the next day.

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