Jane Blanchard

A Saturday on Saint Simon’s Island
       19 April 2025

Two hundred fifty years ago 
“the shot heard round the world” 
was fired by farmers in the North
as revolution swirled.

Today down South descendants choose
to honor those who dared
to aim for independence from
a king who often erred.

These sons and daughters gather in
the park beside the pier;
an ROTC honor guard
and troops of scouts draw near.

Small cannon play the loudest role
in this pretend attack;
some seconds later just off shore
the schooner Lynx sounds back.

When done, participants depart
and leave the site to those
who swing, climb, slide, throw balls, walk dogs,
or see how putt-putt goes.

Note: The second line of this poem cites most of the fourth line of “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Jane Blanchard lives and writes in Augusta, Georgia. Her latest collection is Furthermore.