Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEATH OF NELSON, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DEATH OF NELSON, by                    
First Line: Come all gallant seamen that unite a meeting
Last Line: "may rest in the fleet with you, lord collingwood"
Subject(s): "nelson, Horatio, Viscount (1758-1805);


Come all gallant seamen that unite a meeting,
Attend to these lines that I'm going to relate
And, when that you hear, it will move you with pity
To hear how Lord Nelson, he met with his fate.
For he was a bold and undaunted commander
As ever did sail on the ocean wide
And he made both the French and the Spaniards surrender
By always pouring into them a broadside.
Mourn, England, mourn; mourn and complain,
For the loss of Lord Nelson, who died on the main.
From aloft to aloft, where he was commanding,
All by a French gun he received a ball
And by the contents, he got mortally wounded
And that was the occasion of Lord Nelson's fall.
Like an undaunted hero, exposed to the fire
As he gave the command, on the quarter-deck stood,
And to hear of his actions, you would much admire,
To see the decks covered all with human blood.
One hundred engagements he had been into
And never, in his time, was he known to be beat,
For he had lost an arm, likewise his right eye, sir,
No powers on earth could ever him defeat.
His age, at his death, it was forty and seven,
And as long as I live, his great praises I'll sing,
For the whole navigation was given unto him
Because he was loyal and true to his king.
Then up steps the doctor in a very great hurry
And unto Lord Nelson these words he did say,
Indeed then, my Lord, I am very sorry,
To see you lying and bleeding this way.
No matter, no matter whatever about me,
My time it has come, I'm almost at the worst,
And there's my gallant seamen who're fighting so boldly,
Go and discharge your duty to them first.
Then with a loud voice he called out to his captain,
Pray let me know how this battle does go,
I think that our guns continue to rattle,
Though death approaches I very well know.
The antagonist's ship has gone to the bottom,
Eighteen we've captured, and brought them on board,
And here are two of them quite blown out of the ocean,
So that is the news I have brought you, my Lord.
Come all gallant seamen that unite a meeting,
Always let Lord Nelson's memory go round;
For it is your duty when you unite a meeting,
Because he was loyal and true to the Crown;
So now to conclude and to finish these verses,
My time it is come, I am quite at the worst,
May the heavens go with you and ten thousand blessings
May rest in the Fleet with you, Lord Collingwood.






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