“I leave it to your discretion to strike or not, but the American colors must not be pulled down over my head today.”

— Oliver Hazard Perry

Final instructions to Lieutenant John Joliffe Yarnall, upon leaving the disabled Lawrence in the Battle of Lake Erie (10 September 1813)

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Oliver Hazard Perry5

United States Naval Officer 1785–1819

Laurie R. King (1952) American novelist

“As when you were a child and some tremendous hurt
Was pulled over your head like a sack-
Glints of sunshine through the mesh
And the hum of the cherry trees.

But it doesn’t help, the great hurt
Covers head and torso and knees
And though you are able to move sometimes
Spring brings no happiness.

Yes, shimmering wool cap, pull it down over your face
Stare through the mesh.
Out on the bay, the rings of water multiply soundlessly
Green leaves darken the earth.”

Tomas Tranströmer (1931–2015) Swedish poet, psychologist and translator

As When You Were a Child.
För levande och döda (For the Living and the Dead) 1996

“He pulls the hood over my head. I try to pull back. I'm not trying to run away. I just want to see her… One last time…”

Malorie Blackman Noughts & Crosses

Source: Noughts & Crosses

“So please don't think I have a 'down' on the MVS people. I'm just pulling off their arms to beat other people over the head with.”

Larry Wall (1954) American computer programmer and author, creator of Perl

[199808050415.VAA24026@wall.org, 1998]
Usenet postings, 1998

“To live on the earth is to become part of it
To strike down roots that won't pull free”

Ataol Behramoğlu (1942) Turkish writer

"I've Learned Some Things" (1977)
Variant translations:
One can look at the sky for hours
One can look for hours at the sea, at a bird, at a child
Living on this world is being one with it
Growing unbreakable roots into it
Translated as "There Is One Thing I Learned From What I Lived" by Sãleyman Fatih Akgãl at TC Turkish Poetry Pages
I've Learned Some Things (2008)
Context: A person can gaze at the sky for hours
Can gaze for hours at a bird, a child, the sea
To live on the earth is to become part of it
To strike down roots that won't pull free