The Ballad of the 'Calliope'
The Ballad of the 'Calliope' by Andrew Barton Paterson is a poem that tells the story of a steamboat named Calliope and its journey down the Mississippi River. The poem explores themes of adventure, freedom, and the beauty of nature. It is a classic example of early American literature and has been widely studied and admired for its lyrical language and vivid imagery.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1895 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Biographical · 1,032 words
First lines
By the far Samoan shore, / Where the league-long rollers pour / All the wash of the Pacific on the coral-guarded bay, / Riding lightly at their ease, / In the calm of tropic seas, / The three great nations' warships at their anchors proudly lay.
Riding lightly, head to wind, / With the coral reefs behind, / Three Germans and three Yankee ships were mirrored in the blue; / And on one ship unfurled / Was the flag that rules the world -- / For on the old 'Calliope' the flag of England flew.
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Genres
- Poetry — This book is a collection of poems penned by Andrew Barton Paterson, thus classifying it under the Poetry genre.
- Historical — Given Paterson's propensity for drawing on historical events and themes, the genre of Historical fiction may also be applicable.
- Biographical — Paterson's writing, particularly in this collection, often reflects his own experiences and worldviews, lending a Biographical aspect to the work.
Tags
poetry · ballad · nature · travel · romance · adventure · sea · ocean · boat · ship · steamship · calliope
What this Textopian page supports
The Ballad of the 'Calliope' is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Andrew Barton Paterson
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical, Biographical
- Length: 1,032 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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