martes, abril 19, 2005

Día del Patriota

En los Estados Unidos, antes del 11 de septiembre de 2001, cada 19 de abril se celebraba el Día del Patriota, en honor a aquellos valientes de Lexington y Concord, quienes en ese día pero de 1775 dispararon las primeras municiones por su libertad. A continuación incluyo el ya famoso Himno de Concord, escrito por uno de los pensadores más prolíficos de esa nación: Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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, are 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.