Concord Hymn

Concord Hymn By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set to-day a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee. The poem Concord Hymn was written in tribute to the heroes of the Battle of Concord. It was sung as a hymn at a ceremony in 1873 to mark the completion of a monument in honor of the revolutionary patriots of Concord. It was there, on April 19, 1775, that the American minutemen resisted British troops at the north Bridge. Emerson’s poem immortalized the Battle of Concord, and “the shot heard ‘round the world” became a popular metaphor for the worldwide influence of the American Revolution. Poetry Memorization and Recitation Part of our class goals is to learn about the symbols and art (paintings, music, literature, etc.) of our nation. Concord Hymn is one of the poems that every American has heard a piece of; “…the shot heard ‘round the world.” You will have to recite the poem on demand beginning one week from today. You will have three chances to get it perfect and this assignment counts as a quiz grade. Readers Dictionary Rude: roughly wrought, built, or formed; of a crude construction or kind Arched: made, covered, or spanned with an arch or arches Flood: river or stream Embattled: engaged in conflict or struggle Votive: offered, given, dedicated, etc., in accordance with a vow Redeem: to recover Sires: fathers, male ancestors Shaft: a monument in the form of a column, obelisk, or the like