Paul Revere's Ride!

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man us now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.


He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town tonight,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower, as a signal light-
One, if by land, and two, if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm
For the country-folk to be up and to arm."


Then he said "Good night,"and with muffled oar
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore,...


Meanwhile, his friend through alley and street
Wanders and watches with eager ears,
Till in the silence around him he hears
The muster of men at the barrack door,
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet,
And the measured tread of the grenadiers
Marching down to their boats on the shore...


Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride
On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere...
But mostly he watched with eager search
The belfry-tower of the Old North Church,...
And lo! as he looks, on the belfry's height,
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,
But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight
A second lamp in the belfry burns!...


It was twelve by the village clock
When he crossed the bridge into Medford town...

It was one by the village clock
When he galloped into Lexington...

It was two by the village clock
When he came to the bridge in Concord town...

           H. W. Longfellow

Hosanna here - There is much more to the poem, but if you want to read the rest you'll have to find it somewhere else. Since it is April 18th, it reminded me of this poem. It is good for all of us to remember, and study our history.