April 19– “Concorde Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1837)
Summary: So short today, I'm just going to post the whole poem here:
Concord Hymn
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.
Commentary: That's it, that's the whole thing. Today is the anniversary of the battle of Concorde.
It's fine as a poem, much better sung.
About once a week in T5FSOB I get to find out the origin of a popular phrase, and today we got "the shot heard round the world." It's not the most important information or anything, but it is a fun part of the project.
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