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Oliver Wendell Holmes - Old Ironsides
Work rating: Medium

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!  
    Long has it waved on high,  
   And many an eye has danced to see  
    That banner in the sky;  
   Beneath it rung the battle shout,  
    And burst the cannon`s roar; — 
   The meteor of the ocean air  
    Shall sweep the clouds no more!

   Her deck, once red with heroes` blood,  
   Where knelt the vanquished foe,  
  When winds were hurrying o`er the flood,  
   And waves were white below,  
  No more shall feel the victor`s tread,  
   Or know the conquered knee; — 
  The harpies of the shore shall pluck  
   The eagle of the sea! 

  Oh, better that her shattered hulk  
   Should sink beneath the wave;  
  Her thunders shook the mighty deep,  
   And there should be her grave;  
  Nail to the mast her holy flag,  
   Set every threadbare sail,  
  And give her to the god of storms,  
   The lightning and the gale!
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