In the age of enlightenment
Gifted with mind and pen
Declared the nation's independence
Proclaimed freedom for us all
Inalienable rights he called
Freedom from tyranny
His dream for all progeny
By universal proclamation
We know the Father of the Nation
But who can or will resist
The nation's soul and spirit
The sage of Monticello
Gave birth to promises
To the world a shining beacon
Of Life, Liberty and Happiness
From contradiction no escapes
The writer of American scripture
Guilty of human mistakes
On slavery, he did not so well fare
But dream a free future, he did dare
Ruthless in innuendo and politics
But in art, architecture he frolicked
But to every bold inspiration
Exists the threat of termination
For the polity, freedom's call
Was not easy to protect at all
Thus it came to pass
That freedom did not stay strong
Divided by those who would suppress
And those who would right the wrong
The world's bold experiment
Yielded to terrible ferment
Many a weak willed politician
Failing to rise to the occasion
Then as destiny would have it
A spiritual heir was born
To see his father's dream
Rise from the ashes of scorn
An unlikely leader for sure
Not from any aristocracy
Ungainly, awkward and poor
To save the country from lunacy
Many a decade did he prepare
To answer his country's choice
Dred-Scott caused final repair
And the heir found his voice
Cannot stand, did he lament
Thus he debated with eloquence
And won the race for President
Terrible price he decided to pay
To keep his father's dream alive
Thousands upon thousands
Did in a great conflict die
Which with his soul he did cherish
Freedom and emancipation
He would not from this earth, let perish
"The fearful trip was done"
And he achieved martyrdom
Generations have come to see
What it has meant to live free
One hundred years apart
Seemingly does not make an offspring
But in matters of such import
Biology is not the real thing
For the son of enlightenment
Fathered his son across generations
To let freedom live and shine
To the eternal thanks of all nations
1 comment:
Terrific! Btw, I live about 3 blocks from Cooper Union, a building built in 1859 just in time for Lincoln to give the speech that basically got him elected (I think it was the one with "...house divided..."). I have gone to several lectures there. More or less unchanged from when Lincoln spoke. Here is the link to the "Great Hall."
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