OCR Text |
Show VI AN OLD BOOK (Benjamin Franklin in France, 1776-1783) Now my country needs me I have come, But I am like a book with pages torn. If book could be rebound it is in France, The cover be replaced though old and worn, The edges gilded, lettering renewed. Here I'm acclaimed as none but God should be. The ladies, bless them, kiss my wigless pate And sit like pretty birds upon my knee, For France is feminine and must be wooed. I fly my kites, balloons, two fruitless years And sit for portraits, print, attend salons. I meet Vergennes, the key to Louis' ears. No victory, like Trenton and Burgoyne Could be more cheered at home than here in France, No hero worshipped more than Washington At Valley Forge, where turned the tide of chance. They feared of war with England if we failed, But now are ours. The fish is in the net, And France comes boldly forth to meet our needs With money, troops and ships-and Lafayette. But this old book has more to do to end The war with treaties, liberty. Then home To build the Constitution, ratify And polish, part by part, the stately tome. At last the book is placed upon the shelf. What finer clasp-the Constitution signed, A young and growing nation launched with pride- Before the shelf could any volume find ? |