Founding Fathers

A Villanella

I’ve lived life in the shadows of Fathers Founding,

Carpenter Hall, Valley Forge and Liberty Bell,

Twix Philly and Lancaster in the town Downing.

You could say steeped in history if not drowning.

I’m not far from where the Brandywine Battle fell,

I’ve lived life in the shadows of Fathers Founding.

It was a place for a youth to get his grounding

In U. S. history where there’s so much to tell

Twix Philly and Lancaster in the town Downing.

I could almost hear the old town crier sounding

The independence signing; hear the rebel yell.

I’ve lived life in the shadows of Fathers Founding.

The signposts and monuments ever surrounding

Me as a babe and I grew up knowing them well

Twix Philly and Lancaster in the town Downing.

And to those markers of heroes I went bounding,

Eager to learn how they made the freedom bell knell.

I’ve lived life in the shadows of Fathers Founding.

Twix Philly and Lancaster in the town Downing.

Photo by the author, Liberty Bell reflecting Independence Hall, Philadelphia, 2006