When I awoke from restless sleep
On that June morning in Philadelphia
I knew it was to be a sultry day.
But weather was the last of my concerns.
A resolution is rushing in my thoughts
To fulfill this deep burning in my heart.
How daring can I be?
What injustice is abroad!
The crown is wicked–out of line!
The taxes come in torrents
On molasses, legal documents, newspapers, on and on,
With stamps we have to buy and fix.
Arid laws to keep their troops
In quarters stocked with goods,
Tax on lead, on paint and finally tea.
The tea we spilled to let them know
Our sharp distaste for careless rules!
We are serious about our cause.
Oh their intolerable acts!
Patrick spoke for all of us with
“Give me liberty or give me death!”
We showed our strength at Ticonderoga,
Our commitment by our minutemen at Bunker Hill!
And George has led our forces to victory after victory.
I met with John and Ben, with Robert and Roger
And also Tom, whom we all admire.
Are we ready to take this major step?
Can we really face the King?
The words are running through my mind:
“That these United Colonies are,
And of right ought to be, free and independent states,
That they are absolved of all allegiance
To the British Crown,”
Are we ready to be totally dissolved?
Indeed I called for the First Congress of the Colonies,
And John and I penned the final resolution.
On July second at our Second Congress
They passed our “Independence Act”
With twelve loud yeas!
We launched our ship of state!
No turning back!
The committee has done its work,
Selecting Tom to draft the Declaration.
Brilliant Tom now shares his vision and his skill.
The Declaration developed and recorded in his careful hand.
This evening it was approved, our special day!
Today, the fourth, we launched a new nation–
The United States of America!
Tonight I sleep content,
Grateful for true patriots for a noble cause!
What will tomorrow bring?
(May 1996)