‘Listen my children and you shall hear…of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…T’was the 18th of April, ’75…’ (H. W. Longfellow)
A little bit of US history as memorialized in Longfellow’ long poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.
My 5th grade teacher, Miss Meehan, wrote several stanzas on the blackboard (remember those?) and we had write them, ourselves, then memorize them.
I’ve never forgotten those stanzas and am reminded of the history and Miss Meehan every April 18th, today. It’s important to remember our history and important people in our lives. Miss Meehan was a good teacher and that period in US history was, well, what can I say.
It’s also important to understand our past, as a country and an individual, so we can learn and make in-course corrections as we continue to grow.
Paul Revere wasn’t the only rider that night and the British grabbed him before he got carried away with his warnings to the public. However, HWL chose to use him in his narrative and now his name is synonymous with revolution and liberty.
I hope you find the poem to read, yourself. And, as I like to do, read it aloud. It seems to resonate better with me when I do.
Remember history, and the teachers who made it come alive for you.
Steve
S'amusing 
Yes. Our teachers can touch our lives in profound ways. And I happily remember blackboards. I used to sponge a lot of them clean as a job at my high school.
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That was a chore. I got to clean inkwells in elem school but that ended when I spilled ink on the front of a new pair of pants. So embarrassing. 😂
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History is a wonderful thing, Steve. Thanks
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And reading about it is exciting. Thanks, John.
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I love Longfellow’s poem and read aloud and had a hard cover picture book in my classrooms for students to enjoy again and again. Here’s a link to this beautifully illustrated treasure https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Reveres-Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow/dp/0140556125 Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Bette. The cover is beautiful. I’ll look into it more.
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Teachers have the power to leave an indelible mark on us!
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They do. I remember a couple snd can hear them teach as though it was yesterday. Thanks, Mike.
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I hope you like this pertinent post, Steve: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/07/04/no-one-forgets-a-good-teacher/
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Yes, I remember blackboards! The high school I attended was built in the 1890s. My dad read Longfellow”s poem to me when I was little, and I learned of the history it represented from him. In fact, until I went to college, I learned history from my dad and from my own reading, not from my teachers. That changed in college, I’m happy to say.
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…and if the teacher scratched the chalk across the blackboard at an angle, it would make a screeching noise that sends down your spine. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration (lots of my tales are), but it’s no exaggeration to say that some of the best lessons were taught by dads. Can I tell you one more tale? Thank you…
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…and this really happened. I was driving along my merry way on the NY Thruway, heading home after a couple of nights on the road (my sales job). It was April 18 and I was reciting Longfellow’s poem, ‘…when he said to his friend, if the British march …’, when I noticed the flashing red lights in my rear view mirror. NY’s finest was stopping me to ticket me for speeding. I plead guilty and told the trooper that it was the anniversary of PR’s ride and said to the officer, ‘I bet Paul wasn’t going this fast’. ‘Here’s your ticket, sir, drive carefully’. That was a costly recital!
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This is the best story ever! I love it!!!!
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And it really happened that way. It almost made me happy to get the ticket because it gave me a great story to tell years later. Until I had to pay the fine 🥴
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Sometimes you have to pay a price for a good story! 😀
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Yes! We must remember our history. That’s how we learn and grow. Excellent post, Steve.
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That’s what history is supposed to do, Jennie. We just need to heed its lessons. Thanks, Jennie.
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I wish everyone understood that and felt the same way. Best to you, Steve.
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A lovely tribute to teachers, Steve, and a very interesting piece of information.
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Thank you, Robbie!
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I had to memorize much poetry in grade school. Remembering Longfellow brought back to mind “Under the spreading chestnut tree the village smithy stands…”
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He had a way with words, didn’t he. Thanks for commenting.
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Hi Elizabeth, we also had to memorise poems in junior school and early high school and the one I have never forgotten is The Oxford Voice by DH Lawrence. You can listen to a good recital of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOea2DtXpus
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Robbie, these two poems were enjoyable to hear recited. The speaker was excellent and The Oxford Voice was a fun one.
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For some reason, Steve, that poem has always stuck in my mind. Funny how that happens. DH Lawrence was very belligerent about the English upper classes at the time.
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And he didn’t hide his feelings, either. I wonder if it was jealousy. I think that feeling is always there among some, the resentment of the upper class, or wealthy.
The narrator was excellent. Thanks for sharing, Robbie.
Steve
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It wasn’t until I hit college that a history professor made me love the class. He could make 90 minutes fly by like 9! Glad I had the experience:).
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