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Thursday, April 19, 2012

"CONCORD HYMN" BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

We've all heard about the "shot heard round the world"
fired at Concord, but there's more to the poem. So, in honor of the
237th anniversary of the Battles of Concord and Lexington, here's
Ralph Waldo Emerson's  "Concord Hymn":


Concord Hymn
       by
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 today 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, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.



2 comments:

Heather Wilkinson Rojo said...

I remember standing under the obelisk near the Concord Minuteman statue and my Dad had us all recite this from memory. We were only kids. I think of it every time we bring visitors to see Concord. That memory of my Dad is one of my favorite memories. Thanks, Bill!

Diana Ritchie said...

Thanks for posting this - it really brought back memories! I had to memorize this poem when I was in 8th grade :-)