The boy stood on the burning deck <br />Whence all but he had fled; <br />The flame that lit the battle's wreck <br />Shone round him o'er the dead. <br />Yet beautiful and bright he stood, <br />As born to rule the storm; <br />A creature of heroic blood, <br />A proud, though childlike form. <br /> <br />The flames roll'd on...he would not go <br />Without his father's word; <br />That father, faint in death below, <br />His voice no longer heard. <br /> <br />He call'd aloud..."Say, father,say <br />If yet my task is done!" <br />He knew not that the chieftain lay <br />Unconscious of his son. <br /> <br />"Speak, father!" once again he cried <br />"If I may yet be gone!" <br />And but the booming shots replied, <br />And fast the flames roll'd on. <br /> <br />Upon his brow he felt their breath, <br />And in his waving hair, <br />And looked from that lone post of death, <br />In still yet brave despair; <br /> <br />And shouted but one more aloud, <br />"My father, must I stay?" <br />While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud <br />The wreathing fires made way, <br /> <br />They wrapt the ship in splendour wild, <br />They caught the flag on high, <br />And stream'd above the gallant child, <br />Like banners in the sky. <br /> <br />There came a burst of thunder sound... <br />The boy-oh! where was he? <br />Ask of the winds that far around <br />With fragments strewed the sea. <br /> <br />With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, <br />That well had borne their part; <br />But the noblest thing which perished there <br />Was that young faithful heart.<br /><br />Felicia Dorothea Hemans<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/casabianca-2/
