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Oliver Wendell Holmes - At A Dinner To Admiral Farragut
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JULY 6, 1865

Now, smiling friends and shipmates all,
Since half our battle `s won,
A broadside for our Admiral!
Load every crystal gun
Stand ready till I give the word,--
You won`t have time to tire,--
And when that glorious name is heard,
Then hip! hurrah! and fire!

Bow foremost sinks the rebel craft,--
Our eyes not sadly turn
And see the pirates huddling aft
To drop their raft astern;
Soon o`er the sea-worm`s destined prey
The lifted wave shall close,--
So perish from the face of day
All Freedom`s banded foes!

But ah! what splendors fire the sky
What glories greet the morn!
The storm-tost banner streams on high,
Its heavenly hues new-born!
Its red fresh dyed in heroes` blood,
Its peaceful white more pure,
To float unstained o`er field and flood
While earth and seas endure!

All shapes before the driving blast
Must glide from mortal view;
Black roll the billows of the past
Behind the present`s blue,
Fast, fast, are lessening in the light
The names of high renown,--
Van Tromp`s proud besom fades from sight,
And Nelson`s half hull down!

Scarce one tall frigate walks the sea
Or skirts the safer shores
Of all that bore to victory
Our stout old commodores;
Hull, Bainbridge, Porter,--where are they?
The waves their answer roll,
"Still bright in memory`s sunset ray,--
God rest each gallant soul!"

A brighter name must dim their light
With more than noontide ray,
The Sea-King of the "River Fight,"
The Conqueror of the Bay,--
Now then the broadside! cheer on cheer
To greet him safe on shore!
Health, peace, and many a bloodless year
To fight his battles o`er!
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