Welcome back to The Daily Poem, a podcast from Goldberry Studios. I'm Sean Johnson, and today is Monday, October 23rd, 2003.

Today's poem is by an anonymous poet, and it's called The Death of Nelson.

Today is October 23rd, October 21st, 1805, the date of one of history's great and notable naval battles, the Battle of Trafalgar, and it claimed the life of one of history's great naval heroes, Lord Horatio Nelson.

This poem was written to commemorate that event and that man. I'll read it once,

offer a few comments, and then read it again. The Death of Nelson.

Come all gallant seamen that unite a meeting Attend to these lines that I'm going to relate

And when that you hear it will move you with pity

To hear how Lord Nelson he met with his fate

For he was a bold and undaunted commander

As ever did sail on the ocean wide

And he made both the French

and the Spaniard surrender by always pouring into them a broadside.

Mourne, Mourn, mourn, and complain, for the loss of Lord Nelson, who died on the main.

From a loft to a loft, where he was commanding all by a French gun he received a ball,

and by the contents he got mortally wounded, and that was the occasion of Lord Nelson's fall.

Like an undaunted hero exposed to the fire as he gave the command on the quarter-deck stood,

and to hear of his actions you would much admire to see the decks covered all with human blood.

One hundred engagements he had been into and never in his time was he known to be beat.

For he had lost an arm, likewise his right eyes, sir, no powers on earth could ever him defeat.

His age at his death, it was forty and seven, and as long as I live his great praises I'll sing, the whole navigation

was given unto him because he was loyal and true to his king.

Then up steps the doctor in a very great hurry, and unto Lord Nelson these words he did

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