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Poem
June 17, 1811
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
A satirical poem titled 'A MISTAKE' mocks Democrats for mistaking a small fishing boat for a heavily armed British ship, viewed through an old hand pump at sea. Published for its political sentiment rather than poetic elegance.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
[We publish the subjoined communication
rather on account of the sentiment it conveys,
than for the beauty or elegance of the
poetry]
A MISTAKE.
A lively piece I now insert,
I think it not a crime,
It will not do a grain of hurt,
To fix it into rhyme.
A short time since, was at sea,
Ah!—on the very high,
A man on deck cry'd loudly out,
A Vessel he did spy.
He said it was a British ship,
For he could plainly spy,
It carried as much as forty guns;
He felt as tho' he'd die.
In fine, to tell the truth right plump,
This Vessel he did spy;
He saw it through an old hand pump.
With Democratic eye.
It was a little fishing boat,
Which then was passing by,
Thus democrats can see great sights,
At any time they try.
rather on account of the sentiment it conveys,
than for the beauty or elegance of the
poetry]
A MISTAKE.
A lively piece I now insert,
I think it not a crime,
It will not do a grain of hurt,
To fix it into rhyme.
A short time since, was at sea,
Ah!—on the very high,
A man on deck cry'd loudly out,
A Vessel he did spy.
He said it was a British ship,
For he could plainly spy,
It carried as much as forty guns;
He felt as tho' he'd die.
In fine, to tell the truth right plump,
This Vessel he did spy;
He saw it through an old hand pump.
With Democratic eye.
It was a little fishing boat,
Which then was passing by,
Thus democrats can see great sights,
At any time they try.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Satire
Democrats
Sea Mistake
British Ship
Fishing Boat
Hand Pump
Poem Details
Title
A Mistake.
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
He Saw It Through An Old Hand Pump.
With Democratic Eye.
It Was A Little Fishing Boat,
Which Then Was Passing By,
Thus Democrats Can See Great Sights,