Things will be rockin' and exploding over at my brother's house later today and Ryno and I shall be part of the shenanigans, along with eighty other liquored up goofballs.
It will be one helluva birthday party for America over at Casa del Marty.
And to kick the day off, I once again summon the historical perspective and Gaelic fueled wordsmitthery of my dad, Jack Mahoney, to wax poetic on the origins of this great nation...
The Voice of the Revolution
Richmond’s streets were cold and bare
But signs of Spring were in the air.
Like Christians from the Catacombs
Patriots stole past Tory homes.
To St. John’s Church in stealth they came
Risking death and a traitor’s name.
Once safe inside they paused to pray
That freedom’s torch would light their way.
The roll was called, the minutes read
Approved and entered as were said.
Each cautious vote was meekly cast
When Patrick Henry stood at last.
Then like a monk before his God
His voice in measured cadence trod.
The oak floor shook beneath his rage
The Bible trembled page by page.
He crossed his wrists, despair implied
“Our chains are forged”, he harshly cried.
He spoke of liberty and death
And murmurs rose with every breath.
Then undismayed by thoughts of fear
The Yankee crowd began to cheer.
The shouts burst forth like tamarind
And Henry’s words were on the wind…
In Williamsburg, where all was still
Lord Dunmore felt a sudden chill.
He shuddered as he stirred the fire,
And saw a raging fun’ral pyre.
A musket shot, a distant bell,
And muffled hoof beats broke the spell.
Reluctantly, he grabbed his sword,
And took his pistol from the board.
Sadly, he knew, but could not say,
That England’s fate was sealed that day.
Richmond’s streets were cold and bare
But signs of Spring were in the air.
Like Christians from the Catacombs
Patriots stole past Tory homes.
To St. John’s Church in stealth they came
Risking death and a traitor’s name.
Once safe inside they paused to pray
That freedom’s torch would light their way.
The roll was called, the minutes readApproved and entered as were said.
Each cautious vote was meekly cast
When Patrick Henry stood at last.
Then like a monk before his God
His voice in measured cadence trod.
The oak floor shook beneath his rage
The Bible trembled page by page.
He crossed his wrists, despair implied
“Our chains are forged”, he harshly cried.
He spoke of liberty and death
And murmurs rose with every breath.
Then undismayed by thoughts of fear
The Yankee crowd began to cheer.
The shouts burst forth like tamarind
And Henry’s words were on the wind…
In Williamsburg, where all was still
Lord Dunmore felt a sudden chill.
He shuddered as he stirred the fire,
And saw a raging fun’ral pyre.
A musket shot, a distant bell,
And muffled hoof beats broke the spell.
Reluctantly, he grabbed his sword,
And took his pistol from the board.
Sadly, he knew, but could not say,
That England’s fate was sealed that day.
© 1981 JJM
Amen and Amen...
Have a wonderful 4th of July all you chuckleheads. And for those of you who have tomorrow off?
Suck It!!
Cheers!!
9 comments:
Enjoy your holiday shenanigans and do your best to make your day at work tomorrow a little more bearable than last week :)
Dana: Indeed I shall, and tomorrow will probably be incredibly boring because most of Bagwine will be hungover. Cheers Dana!!
Have a great time out at Marty's place. Have a beer for JR and don't blow off anything vital.
...Party on Wayne! Party on Garth!...Scrumpdidilicious wordsmithery!...
Not only do I have tomorrow off, but I have the next day and the next day and on and on and, hey where's the infinity key on the keyboard anyway?
Hope you're having a grand old time matty :)
Michele: Ryno and I had a wonderful time. It was a blast. Cheers Michele!!
Vrankie: Vrank You. Cheers P-Man!!
Mike: I hate you...and trust me, that's a compliment. Cheers Mike!!
Di: Same to ya, Di. We had a wunnerful time. Cheers Di!!
Hmmm, OH isn't THAT far fromm TN. I want to visit!
Ame from TN
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