Ghosts of the Revolution - A Poem

Remembering the Fallen of 1775-1783

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Many do not see them, the men who fought and died.

The ones who heard the calling, and made it worth the fight.

Many do not see them while they wander through the streets,

As our fireworks explode above the sounds of marching feet.

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But take away the sparklers and take away the lights,

And quiet all the laughter as you listen to the night.

If you’re silent, you will hear as they march along the field,

To the thrum of distant cannons and the muskets armies wield.

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In the lull, you can hear the ghosts of the Revolutionary War.

Revisiting the darkened places they had been all once before.

You can hear the ghosts who fell upon the bloody battlegrounds,

As the canons go above you and revive the wartime sounds.

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If you’re silent, you can hear them when they drop to their knees.

At the place where they refused to yield despite their inner pleas.

For America, they cried as they gave their final breath,

And closed their eyes to accept their own sacrificial death.

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A future they imagined, where Freedom’s reign is true,

A hope that they had died for, a love for me and you;

A Country that they had cherished, a home like none before.

A people they protected ‘fore all of us were born.

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They beheld a glowing vision as the darkness took their sight:

These dreams of ours were worth it. We’ve fought our final fight.

Let Freedom reign abundant on these lands where we abide,

And may God bless the country for which we fought and died.

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If you’re silent, you can hear them on this glowing Summer night,

As the fireworks above you cause the sky to pulse with light.

The explosions aren’t so trivial— they’re the sounds our Fathers heard

As they fought for our Tomorrows and their sacrifice conferred.

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In the silence, you can hear them, the Ghosts who have returned,

To see the people that they loved; the country for which they yearned.

And in the silence, you can hear them, lest you dare forget.

Their blood had bought our Freedom; that love still burning yet:

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God bless the U.S.A!