Star Spangled Banner--1814 style

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Perhaps a bit long to sing.

I am very proud of my country right now. I'm proud because of the number of people who turned out to vote. I'm proud of my country, not so much because they picked the guy I liked, but because so very many of them came out to vote one way or another. They got involved. They gave a shit. I'm proud because Sister for the very first time voted yesterday, and was very happy with herself.

I'm proud because I heard a graceful concession speech and a powerful acceptance speech--and neither person unnecessarily bungled their words or made up new ones like "strategery." I'm proud because Obama called on everybody to roll up their sleeves and pitch in to do the work, to take care of each other. I'm proud because every person I've seen this morning who I don't know has a big grin on their face. I'm proud because me and an older black woman I've never seen before looked each other square in the eye as we were passing each other this morning and started giggling.

I'm especially proud because Dante came in my room early this morning, picked his own clothes out for school, and whispered, "Hey Mom. MOM. Did he win? Did he do it?" And when he got an answer went away whistling, made his own breakfast and got himself completely ready for school.



-- DV