I found the Bishop poem--what I didn't have was the shape of the poem, which is the key to its structure. It's stunning how rapidly things will lose their currency in our culture--the Hemans poem circulating for more than a hundred years, then poof: it's gone.



Casabianca



Love's the boy stood on the burning deck

trying to recite "The boy stood on

the burning deck." Love's the son

stood stammering elocution

while the poor ship in flames went down.



Love's the obstinate boy, the ship,

even the swimming sailors, who

would like a schoolroom platform, too,

or an excuse to stay

on deck. And love's the burning boy.





I don't see how I could have forgotten a few key words: elocution, obstinate.