On a day in early June of seventeen seventy six

A momentous task was begun by five men picked

To write a formal declaration stating total freedom

And this came to be known as the greatest ever done



Even though it was penned by the hand of Jefferson

It was co-written by four other men who provided some

Great contributions to the overall scope of the paper ...

Giving their all to the statement to come a month later



These included John Adams and Benjamin Franklin ...

Perhaps the two most reknown men, and we thank them

But two others also assisted who are not so well-known

... Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman - whose home



... Is right up the road from the house in which I now sit

Proudly writing my work, and so very glad I am, of it ...

For, in a way ... I am rooted here as solidly as was Roger

Looking back in awe at the history of this area, so proper



For without the work of these five men all those years ago

So many of us would never ever have had the chance to show

Our very own talents and expertise ... living in a free country ...

... Something every person on earth should have the right to, and be 



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

1:25pm Friday, Jan. 29th, 1999