Concord Hymn (in celebration of April 19th, Patriot's Day)

Noblenet.org ^ | Ralph Waldo Emerson

[NMC EXP]

Concord Hymn

Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, or leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

[speedy]

Thanks for posting this oldie but goodie. Wonder how many New England intellecutals would have anything remotely approaching these sentiments today?

[sauropod]

thx for posing this.

[Robert Teesdale]

Concord Bridge

[NonValueAdded]

are you still out there ping?

[NMC EXP]

Wonder how many New England intellecutals would have anything remotely approaching these sentiments today?

I wonder how many Americans in general harbor these sentiments today.

Regards

J.R.

[NMC EXP]

Hi 'pod.

I'm afraid the echos of "the shot heard 'round the world" are long gone my friend.

Happy Patriot's Day.

Regards

J.R.

[NMC EXP]

Thanks for the link.

I've bookmarked your site.....looks interesting at first glance.

Regards

J.R.

[VOA]

And fired the shot heard round the world.

which led to "The World Turned Upside Down".
(IIRC, the song played during the British surrender at Yorktown)

[Atlas Sneezed]

Strange.

April 19 used to be "Patriots' Day," where the uprising of the citizen against an opressive governement was celebrated.

Now, our leaders have decided that their latest crisis (a month's deaths on the highways) justifies shifting the Day to another, celebrating the biggest justification of new governmental intrusions on its own citizens.

[NMC EXP]

Now, our leaders have decided that their latest crisis (a month's deaths on the highways) justifies shifting the Day to another...

More likely a combination of guilty conscience tinged with fear.

I suspect the fedgov would like to see the original April 19th Patriot's Day disappear down the memory hole completely.

They even created "Patriot Day" (singular) to compete with the original.

From freedom from oppression to celebrating more oppression.

Strange indeed.

Regards

J.R.