Men of the Sea
The poem tells the story of a woman who waits anxiously for her lover to return from sea. She describes the sounds of the waves and the wind, and how they remind her of his absence. As she waits, she thinks about their past together and how he had promised to return to her. The poem builds up to a climax where the woman sees a ship approaching, but it turns out to be a stranger's vessel, not her lover's.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1893 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Maritime · 467 words
First lines
_Many the songs of the brave boys sent_ _Over The Top in the battle's thunder_; _But mine is the song of the men who went_ _Over the top of the waves-and under_.
Men of the sea, Men of the sea, I lift mine eyes to the Flags unfurled- The Flags of Victory blowing free Over the new-born world. And I cry ‘Thank God! these things can be! Thank God, and the Men of the Sea!'
What this Textopian page supports
Men of the Sea is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, War Literature, Maritime, Historical, Inspirational
- Length: 467 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Men of the Sea by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- How The Women Went From Dover by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Captains Story by Rebecca Harding Davis
- De Rochambeau by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Cruise Of The Alerte by E. F. Knight
- The Unreturning Brave by Archibald Alexander
- The Merrimac by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, employing rhyme and meter.
- War Literature — The themes revolve around bravery and sacrifice during wartime.
- Maritime — The content focuses on men who served at sea, including the Navy and Merchant Marine.
- Historical — The references to specific battles and naval engagements place it within a historical context.
Tags
Adventure · Maritime · Romance · Drama · Sea · Sailors · Ships · Ocean · Nautical · Historical Fiction · Classic Literature · American Literature