"All that mankind has done, thought, gained or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books."
-Thomas Carlyle

by Jeff Daiell

Note: This poem was written in 2003 the 260th anniversary of Jefferson's birthday.

Two hundred sixty years ago today,
A man named Thomas Jefferson was born.
He lit the flame that showed us Freedom's way;
And so his life we praise; his death we mourn.
Indeed, were he the first, not third, to be
The Union's chief executive, who knows
What gains, slain by those two picked first, we'd see;
What ills they spawned not added to our woes?

But he did more than liberate alone.
The proud Virginia, Nation of his birth,
He learned; and then upon her lore he shone
A teacher's light. He also blessed the Earth
With skill in sciences and art. We stand
In awe of all the gifts he gave his land.

Jeff Daiell is proprietor of Jeff Daiell Communications and chairs the Harris County Libertarian Party. He can be reached at JeffDaiell@yahoo.com.