Happy Birthday to a man of unquestioned integrity, compassion, and dedication to the cause of freedom for all men. If only all would place their fellow men in such high esteem and serve with love and kindness.
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.
Walt Whitman
I watched this show about the Young Abe a few nights ago on the history channel. I fell even more in love with him! To grow up the way he did- surrounded by slaves- would have made most feel it was "normal" But he took that and turned into a powerful need to change the world. It is amazing. May we all be that amazing.
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