Opening
THE TITANIC DISASTER POEM
By J. H. McKenzie
Guthrie, Oklahoma
This event took place on the night of April 14, 1912 with the Titanic on her First voyage in the Atlantic Ocean bound for New York.
Co-Operative Pub. Co., Guthrie, Okla.
Copyrighted, May 1912.
The Titanic Disaster Poem
REVISED
I
On the cold and dark Atlantic, The night was growing late Steamed the maiden ship Titanic Crowded with human freight She was valued at Ten Million, The grandest ever roamed the seas, Fitted complete to swim the ocean When the rolling billows freeze.
II
She bade farewell to England All dressed in robes of white Going out to plow the briny deep, And was on her western flight; She was now so swiftly gliding In L Fifty and Fourteen When the watchman viewed the monster Just a mile from it, ’Twas seen.
III
Warned by a German vessel Of an enemy just ahead Of an Iceberg, that sea monster, That which the seamen dread. On steamed this great Titanic; She was in her swiftest flight; She was trying to break the record, On that fearful, fearful night.
IV
Oh; she was plowing the Ocean For speed not known before, But alas, she struck asunder To last for ever more, A wireless message began to spread Throughout the mighty deep, it said, “We have struck an iceberg, being delayed; Please rush to us with aid.”
V
The Captain, of the White Star Line, Who stood there in command, Was an Admiral of seasoned mind Enroute to the western land. The Captain thought not of his life But stood there to the last And swimming saved a little child As it came floating past.
VI
Outstretched hands offered reward For his brave and heroic deed But the intrepid man went down aboard Trying to rescue a passenger instead This ill-starred giant of the sea Was carried to his grave On the last and greatest ship, was he, That ever cleft a wave.
VII
Gay was the crew aboard this ship, Passengers large and small; They viewed the coming danger, They felt it one and all. On played the grand Orchestra Their notes were soft and clear; They realized God’s power on land On sea ’twas just as near.
VIII
So they played this glorious anthem Continued on the sea And repeated the beautiful chorus “Nearer My God To Thee.” Then silenced when the ship went down Their notes were heard no more. Surely they’ll wear a starry crown On that Celestial Shore.
IX
Colonel Astor, a millionaire, Scholarly and profound, Said to his wife, “I’ll meet you dear Tomorrow in York Town.” His bride asked a seaman true “Oh say! may husband go;” The echo came upon the blue He answered, “He may, you know.”
X
This man rushed not to his seat He seem to have no fear, Being calm, serene and discreet Tendered it to a lady near, “Oh go, he said, my darling wife Please be not in despair, Be of good cheer, as sure as life, I’ll meet you over there.”
XI
Well could he have known this dreadful night The sea would be his grave Though he worked with all his might For those whom he could save. This man a soldier once has been Of military art, Proved himself full competent then To do his noble part.
XII
Major Butt, well known to fame A lady did entreat, To kindly name him to his friends Whom she perchance to meet. He forced the men to realize The weaker they should save; He gave his life with no surprise To the sea—a watery grave; And with a smile upon his face He turned to meet his fate, Soon, soon the sea would be his grave In and ever after date.
XIII
And Strauss, who did the children feed, Had mercy on the poor, And all such men the world doth need To reverence evermore. Oh, may the union of Strauss and wife Be memorial to all men, Each for the other gave their life, A life we should commend; And may all girls who chance in life To read this poem thru Emulate the deed of such a wife, As went down in the blue.
XIV
Down, down goes the great Titanic With faster and faster speed Until Alas! there comes a burst She bade farewell indeed Farewell, farewell to land and seas, Farewell to wharves and shore, For I must land beneath the breeze To reach the land no more I carry with me more human weight Than ever recorded before To leave them on a land sedate They will land, Oh! land no more.
XV
Only a few you see, May tell the story Of this great calamity; Husbands, Wives, perhaps in glory View the sad catastrophe. The Carpathia eastern bound For the Mediterranean sea, Turned to the mighty sound, The wireless C. Q. D.
XVI
Quick was the preparation made, To warn the unfortunate few, For the homeless was cold and delayed Being chilled by the wind as it blew. So to the youth Through life has started, Be ever thoughtful and true, Stay by the truth, be not departed Success shall come to you
Oh, may you shun the Iceberg, By the dreadful work was wrought, And prosper by the lesson This mighty ship has taught.