Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GEORGE WASHINGTON, by ROSE L. HERZOG


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GEORGE WASHINGTON, by                    
First Line: Twas in seventeen hundred and thirty - two
Last Line: Yet each may have part in this bicentenary.
Subject(s): Presidents, United States; Washington, George (1732-1799)


'Twas in seventeen hundred and thirty-two
That the stork decided, on flying through,
To rap at Augustine Washington's door
And leave a boy -- There were some more;
We're not sure just when the others came,
Nor can we call each one by name,
But this we know, from our histories true,
That George came February twenty-and-two.

The baby soon became quite a lad,
And like most boys he wasn't all bad;
In fact we're quite sure he was better than most,
And of his honor we make quite a boast.
When the brand new hatchet he espied
And to the cherry tree quickly hied,
The blade, it seems, was very sharp,
And soon went through the tree's thin bark.

Now when George realized what he'd done,
He knew the result wouldn't be much fun,
That when Dad came home and saw the tree,
He'd be just as cross as cross could be.
Which of course is just what happened, we're told;
But George bravely said, though the chills ran cold,
"Now Father, put all the blame on me,
My hatchet just had to try out that tree."

His word was dependable always, 'tis said;
His judgment the best, though he was but a lad.
Thus he was reliable, equally keen,
And a good surveyor when only sixteen.
His books of maxims and regulations,
Called "Behavior in Company and Conversations,"
He compiled when only a boy in school,
And he carefully aimed to live up to each rule.

At the outbreak of the French and Indian War,
When only of age and a trifle more,
He was commander-in-chief of Virginia's forces,
And made the most of all his resources.
And then in seventeen seventy-five
England found the Colonies much alive
When she tried to impose unjust taxes -- a few --
(O, that Boston Tea Party sure was some brew!)

And may it be said 'twas an unlucky gun
That fired that shot into Lexington.
But with Washington placed our Commander-in-chief,
England's army eventually all came to grief.
'Twas no easy task to be in command,
With difficulties on every hand,
With foes from within and without to contend,
And that Valley Forge winter, which seemed without end.

But he weathered them all and proved his own worth
As soldier, as statesman, (a hero by birth);
And when to the Federal Convention was sent,
They unanimously made him our first President.
For two terms he served and was offered a third,
But this he declined and would not break his word.
He retired to Mount Vernon on Chesapeake Bay,
And two years later he passed away.

Washington's life is a well-known story.
We know that he even planned Old Glory.
First in war and peace and a nation's heart,
His birthday will always be set apart.
And this year, especially, we'll celebrate
The birth of our hero, so good and so great;
And though at his shrine we all cannot tarry,
Yet each may have part in this bicentenary.





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