Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WASP'S FROLIC, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Twas on board the sloop-of-war wasp boys Last Line: "but fate on our laurels was frowning, / we were taken by a seventy-four" Subject(s): Frolic (ship);sea Battles;war Of 1812;wasp (ship); Naval Warfare | ||||||||
'T WAS on board the sloop of war Wasp, boys, We set sail from Delaware Bay, To cruise on Columbia's fair coast, sirs, Our rights to maintain on the sea. Three days were not passed on our station, When the Frolic came up to our view; Says Jones, "Show the flag of our nation;" Three cheers were then gave by our crew. We boldly bore up to this Briton, Whose cannon began for to roar; The Wasp soon her stings from her side ran, When we on them a broadside did pour. Each sailor stood firm at his quarters, 'T was minutes past forth and three, When fifty bold Britons were slaughtered, Whilst our guns swept their masts in the sea. Their breasts then with valor still glowing, Acknowledged the battle we'd won, On us then bright laurels bestowing, When to leeward they fired a gun. On their decks we the twenty guns counted, With a crew for to answer the same; Eighteen was the number we mounted, Being served by the lads of true game. With the Frolic in tow, we were standing, All in for Columbia's fair shore; But fate on our laurels was frowning. We were taken by a seventy-four. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOST ABOARD U.S.S. 'GROWLER'; IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM HICKEY, 1944 by CHARLES OLSON THE CRUISE OF THE MONITOR [MARCH 9, 1862] by GEORGE M. BAKER THE SHANNON AND THE CHESAPEAKE [JUNE 1, 1813] by THOMAS TRACY BOUVE BATTLE OF THE BALTIC by THOMAS CAMPBELL BARNEY'S INVITATION by PHILIP FRENEAU ON THE MEMORABLE VICTORY OF PAUL JONES by PHILIP FRENEAU CASABIANCA by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS THE CUMBERLAND [MARCH 8, 1862] by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW A UTILITARIAN VIEW OF THE MONITOR'S FIGHT by HERMAN MELVILLE TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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