101 Poems, Number 26

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

26: “Old Ironsides,”1830, by Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–94)

A poem that I used to teach—

And ask the kids to memorize.

A poem that, I found, could reach

So many of them (no surprise).

I saw the ship in Boston once—

It’s still commissioned, USN.

I toured it. Taught it. (I’m no dunce!)

And learned a lot ’bout Way Back When.

I read a lot of Holmes, as well.

(His novels* can be quite a trip!)

And learned a simple lesson, too:

That poetry can save a ship.

*Elsie Venner (1861), The Guardian Angel (1867), A Mortal Antipathy (1885). Wild and fun to read.

Link to poem.