Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NIGHT OF TRAFALGAR, by THOMAS HARDY



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NIGHT OF TRAFALGAR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the wild october night-time, when the wind raved round the land
Last Line: That night at trafalgar!
Subject(s): Trafalgar, Battle Of


(Boatman's Song)

I

IN the wild October night-time, when the wind raved round the land,
And the Back-sea met the Front-sea, and our doors were
blocked with sand,
And we heard the drub of Dead-man's Bay, where bones of thousands are,
We knew not what the day had done for us at Trafalgar.
Had done,
Had done,
For us at Trafalgar!

II

'Pull hard, and make the Nothe, or down we go!' one says, says he.
We pulled; and bedtime brought the storm; but snug at home slept we.
Yet all the while our gallants after fighting through the day,
Were beating up and down the dark, sou'-west of Cadiz Bay.
The dark,
The dark,
Sou'-west of Cadiz Bay!

III

The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore,
As hard they strove, those worn-out men, upon that surly shore;
Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far,
Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar!
The deep,
The deep,
That night at Trafalgar!





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