101 Poems, Number 86

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

86: “Concord Hymn,” 1836, by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Some poems you learn because of love—

And some for sake of fame.

And this is in the latter group—

The poet: a famous name.

In Concord, Massachusetts—it

Was 1836–

Our Emerson composed these lines—

And not, of course, for kicks.

The monument at Concord to

Commemorate that shot

Heard round the world—revolt is on!—

Of this, we’ve all been taught.

His words were sung that special day—

And ever since, we know,

Some cruel teachers (me!) required

Their kids to undergo

The memorizing of these lines

That now are so well known—

I learned them too and claim—so far—

The verses have not flown!

Link to poem.