The Wreck of the Hesperus

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"The Wreck of the Hesperus" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a narrative poem first published in 1842. It tells the tragic story of a proud skipper who brings his daughter aboard during a winter voyage. Ignoring warnings of an approaching hurricane, he faces catastrophic consequences when the storm strikes. The skipper ties his daughter to the mast as the ship crashes onto a reef. The poem explores themes of pride, fate, and tragedy through this devastating maritime disaster.