In parchment inked by candlelight,
A rebel heart began to write—
A dream defiant, bold, profound,
Where freedom’s trumpet shook the ground.

All are created equal, they said,
With truths that would not bow nor bend.
From kings they turned, from chains they tore,
Their spirits surged to seek much more.

Endowed by their Creator’s hand
With rights no tyrant could withstand:
Life, liberty, the soul’s true quest,
Pursuit of happiness expressed.

Not just revolt, but revelation—
A birth cry for a newborn nation.
A call to rise, to stake a claim
In honor, resilience, and flame.

Independence—not merely escape,
But shaping of a nobler shape.
A test of will, a trial of mind,
To prove ideals can free mankind.

So still it stands, this hallowed creed,
A torch for those who still have need.
For power lies not in the sword,
But in the strength of guiding word.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 07-04-2025