One bright April morning,
the day still a-dawning,
as farmers went about their tasks,
there came a warning;
"The British are coming! To arms, for liberty's sake!"
The farmers, the clerks, the lawyers and all
Did not shirk their duty, they heard the call.
With dread in their hearts, but with strong, clear resolve,
They changed work tools for liberty tools:
Musket, powder, flint and ball.
Who knows what thoughts must have run through their heads?
Surely, by day's end, some would be dead.
And others, unjustly, would suffer the fate
Of being labeled rebels; and subject to hate
From an unjust Crown, far across the sea,
Which sought to deny them their liberty.
As the dew freshened, they assembled, to wait;
These sons of liberty, masters of their fate.
The red line appeared, and grew larger and longer,
As heearts beat faster, and fear grew stronger.
But a love of something higher gave rest to their fear.
If they mean to have war, by God, let it start here!
A challenge was issued, to throw down their arms.
Surrender to the King's men, and none would know harm.
With this hollow, mocking promise ringing in their ears,
A red mist of righteous rage replaced all their fears.
So they gave back their answer, for the whole world to hear.
Frizzens closed, powder fresh, they mounted their guns.
They peered down their barrels at coats so bright red
And knew. Come days end, some of THEM would be dead.
The morning's sweet calm was then torn assunder,
As sulfur burned hot, and the muskets thundered.
They roared not in hatred, but in steadfast defiance
of the idea that free men should to a king owe alliance.
"Our lives are our own, They belong not to you.
We will find our own way; we need not be led.
Stand aside, let us go, or you will surely be dead!"
So began, on that morning, a story so great
It bears telling, and re-telling, though the hour may grow late.
But that story is being writ still, e'en today,
And has taken a turn for the worse, sad to say.
Too many forget how it began, what it meant, what it cost,
And they say, "Times change! Give them up! It's the dawn of a new day!"
I feel the shades of the Patriots stir,
And their brethren too;
Men in grey, men in blue;
Men in woolen doughboy attire;
The green clad GIs;
The tiger-striped men with the thousand yard eyes;
And their voices whisper,
"Let not our sacrfices have been made in vain.
We gave our blood, our lives, our futures for you.
Keep the ideals alive. Do all you can do."
I will listen; I will hear; as a man, an AMERICAN, by God, it is clear.
Those forces that reared their ugly heads that day
Have not given up; they have not gone away.
And so, I will heed that Patriot's call
And should the time come, will proudly stand with 'em all.
They gave their lives for liberty; I can do no less.
If the dark forces come calling, let them take warning;
They will feel the same power
Of that bright April morning.
Richard Allan Jefferies
April 19, 2000
All rights reserved
May be distributed with proper attribution
[This message has been edited by 45King (edited April 20, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by 45King (edited April 20, 2000).]
the day still a-dawning,
as farmers went about their tasks,
there came a warning;
"The British are coming! To arms, for liberty's sake!"
The farmers, the clerks, the lawyers and all
Did not shirk their duty, they heard the call.
With dread in their hearts, but with strong, clear resolve,
They changed work tools for liberty tools:
Musket, powder, flint and ball.
Who knows what thoughts must have run through their heads?
Surely, by day's end, some would be dead.
And others, unjustly, would suffer the fate
Of being labeled rebels; and subject to hate
From an unjust Crown, far across the sea,
Which sought to deny them their liberty.
As the dew freshened, they assembled, to wait;
These sons of liberty, masters of their fate.
The red line appeared, and grew larger and longer,
As heearts beat faster, and fear grew stronger.
But a love of something higher gave rest to their fear.
If they mean to have war, by God, let it start here!
A challenge was issued, to throw down their arms.
Surrender to the King's men, and none would know harm.
With this hollow, mocking promise ringing in their ears,
A red mist of righteous rage replaced all their fears.
So they gave back their answer, for the whole world to hear.
Frizzens closed, powder fresh, they mounted their guns.
They peered down their barrels at coats so bright red
And knew. Come days end, some of THEM would be dead.
The morning's sweet calm was then torn assunder,
As sulfur burned hot, and the muskets thundered.
They roared not in hatred, but in steadfast defiance
of the idea that free men should to a king owe alliance.
"Our lives are our own, They belong not to you.
We will find our own way; we need not be led.
Stand aside, let us go, or you will surely be dead!"
So began, on that morning, a story so great
It bears telling, and re-telling, though the hour may grow late.
But that story is being writ still, e'en today,
And has taken a turn for the worse, sad to say.
Too many forget how it began, what it meant, what it cost,
And they say, "Times change! Give them up! It's the dawn of a new day!"
I feel the shades of the Patriots stir,
And their brethren too;
Men in grey, men in blue;
Men in woolen doughboy attire;
The green clad GIs;
The tiger-striped men with the thousand yard eyes;
And their voices whisper,
"Let not our sacrfices have been made in vain.
We gave our blood, our lives, our futures for you.
Keep the ideals alive. Do all you can do."
I will listen; I will hear; as a man, an AMERICAN, by God, it is clear.
Those forces that reared their ugly heads that day
Have not given up; they have not gone away.
And so, I will heed that Patriot's call
And should the time come, will proudly stand with 'em all.
They gave their lives for liberty; I can do no less.
If the dark forces come calling, let them take warning;
They will feel the same power
Of that bright April morning.
Richard Allan Jefferies
April 19, 2000
All rights reserved
May be distributed with proper attribution
[This message has been edited by 45King (edited April 20, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by 45King (edited April 20, 2000).]
