July 4, 2017

241 years ago an idea no one dared to believe

That a rag tag bunch of farmers, shopkeepers, and workmen would cause the Lion to grieve

At Concord and Lexington we tweaked the Lion’s tail

No taxation without representation, we could not fail

Five years of struggle, the misery of Valley Forge and near starvation

A nation divided even as it fought for its salvation

Brave men, brave women against the most powerful nation then on Earth

Washington, Lee, Wayne, Marion and till he turned Arnold proved their worth

One by one the British generals went down to defeat

The Eagle bloodied but when it came to freedom would not retreat

241 years later together we can gather to enjoy

The freedoms our forefathers with force of arms chose to employ

God bless America, God bless its shining lights

Thank God for a nation that has got it mostly right

© July 4, 2017 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet

www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com