Revolutionary Verse - Book I

Revolutionary Verse - In Celebration of America-250

Step into the heart of the American Revolution with "Revolutionary Verse," a captivating collection of poems that bring to life the valor, struggles, and spirit of the patriots who fought for independence. Authored by Rick Laws, this chapbook is a tribute to the enduring legacy of the American Revolution, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America's birth.

Within these pages, you'll find a rich tapestry of poetic narratives that explore the lives of soldiers, the harsh realities of war, and the unwavering resolve of those who stood for liberty. From the bitter winter at Valley Forge to the triumphant Battle of Kings Mountain, each poem immerses you in the historical moments that shaped a nation.

Highlights include:

• "Toast to the Father of Our Nation": A heartfelt tribute to George Washington, celebrating his leadership and vision.
•  "Soldiers Shaving": A vivid portrayal of the discipline and pride of Continental soldiers.
• "The Art of the Powdered Wig": A humorous take on the elaborate military dress codes of the era.
• "The Straight-Laced Soldier's Lament": A lighthearted look at the challenges faced by soldiers with their ambidextrous boots.
• "Hardtack and Corn": A reflection on the humble rations that fueled the fight for freedom.
•  "The Ramrod's Flight": A glimpse into the human side of battle, capturing the mishaps and camaraderie of soldiers.
•  "The Kings Mountain Messenger": An epic recounting of Joseph Greer's heroic journey to deliver news of victory.
•  "The Rye-Revered Rye of Mount Vernon": A celebration of George Washington's whiskey distillery and its role in American history.

.Join us in celebrating the spirit of the American Revolution with "Revolutionary Verse." Whether you're a history enthusiast, a poetry lover, or simply someone who appreciates the sacrifices made for freedom, this chapbook is a must-read. Experience the power of verse to connect us with our heritage and inspire us for the future.

Click to order the book directly from the printing company.

Author Spotlight - Lulu (Printer) https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/lawsrl

Scroll to bottom to see catalog

ISBN 978-1-300-33836-9 -(Soft Cover)

Download this Flysheet

The Chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", is a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here.

The Overmountain Men and Kings Mountain

The poem “The Overmountain Men and Kings Mountain” is an excerpt from the book “House of the Messenger – Recovery and Reconstruction of the Kings Mountain Messenger’s Dogtrot House”.

 The Overmountain Men and Kings Mountain

 

In the heartland of Appalachia, where mountains loom high,

A tale of valor and freedom reaches for the sky.

Let me tell you now of the Overmountain Men,

And the battle of Kings Mountain, where legends began.

 

In the late days of autumn, seventeen eighty,

The winds whispered secrets; the land grew weighty.

Across the Carolina plains, a call to arms was heard,

A gathering of heroes, their spirits undisturbed.

 

From the valleys and hollers they emerged, brave and bold,

Frontiersmen, farmers, with stories yet untold.

These Overmountain Men, rugged and true,

Took up their muskets, for freedom they knew.

 

Through treacherous terrain, they marched with resolve,

Each step, a testament to the spirit they evolved.

Over creeks and through forests, they pressed ahead,

Their purpose resolute, as they were led.

 

Up Kings Mountain they climbed, like lions to their den,

In pursuit of liberty, against the Tory men.

With rifles steady, and fire in their eyes,

They faced their enemies, beneath the Carolina skies.

 

The battle ensued, a clash of iron and might,

A symphony of musket fire, in the dimming light.

Bravery and determination coursed through their veins,

As they fought for their freedom and broke their chains.

 

They closed in on their foes, in a final, desperate bout,

Each shot a prayer, each charge a resolute shout.

And in that fateful hour, victory was seized,

As the Overmountain Men fought, and their enemies appeased.

 

The Battle of Kings Mountain, a turning point it proved,

A blow to tyranny, a triumph that moved.

These Overmountain Men, with hearts strong and true,

Their courage and sacrifice forever imbued.

 

So let us remember, with reverence and pride,

The Overmountain Men, who stood side by side.

In the annals of history, their legacy shall 

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here.

The Kings Mountain Messenger

In The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Kings Mountain, "This brilliant victory marked the turning point of the American Revolution." Thomas Jefferson called it "The turn of the tide of success". President Herbert Hoover at Kings Mountain said,

“This is a place of inspiring memories. Here less than a thousand men, inspired by the urge of freedom, defeated a superior force entrenched in this strategic position. This small band of Patriots turned back a dangerous invasion well designed to separate and dismember the United Colonies. It was a little army and a little battle, but it was of mighty portent. History has done scant justice to its significance, which rightly should place it beside Lexington, Bunker Hill, Trenton, and Yorktown.”

In 1931, the Congress of the United States created the Kings Mountain National Military Park. 

The Kings Mountain Messenger

In Tennessee's wild realm, a stalwart soul,

Joseph Greer, with courage as his goal,

From Kings Mountain's fierce fray, he swiftly came,

A herald of triumph, bearer of acclaim.

 

Through perils vast, unwavering, and bold,

He carried victory's tale, a story told,

From Congress' hall to battlefield's fierce roar,

Greer's legend blooms, forever to explore.

 

With sturdy frame and heart that blazed anew,

Through untamed wilds, avoiding dangers true,

From Indians' watch to Red Coats on the prowl,

And Tory militia, threats that did foul.

 

Musket and compass, guides on his quest,

He ventured forth, by honor's call impressed.

In Tennessee's embrace, his legacy thrives,

A hero's journey, through history's lives.

 

Greer's memory, beneath vast skies we store,

Kings Mountain's Messenger, forevermore.

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here.

The Ramrod's Flight

The poem is based on historical accounts of Continental soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. The incident described—firing a ramrod—was actually a common enough occurrence in the heat of battle that it was documented in several military accounts from the period.

The Ramrod's Flight

 Amidst the clash of musket fire,

The battle's roar, a soldier's ire,

A misstep made in haste's embrace,

A ramrod flew instead of lead's embrace.

 

With fumbling hands and heart's pounding beat,

He loaded wrong in war's heated feat,

The ramrod slipped, a hapless plight,

Sailing forth instead of bullet's might.

 

A comrade's laugh rang out in jest,

As the slim rod cut through the smoky crest,

A harmless arc, a futile throw,

Aimed true, yet void of battle's woe.

 

The soldier flushed, his pride now torn,

Amidst the fray, a lesson borne,

To load with care, aim true and straight,

Lest ramrods fly instead of lead's hot weight.

 

In annals writ, this tale shall live,

Of ramrods launched, a tale to give,

A glimpse into the human side,

Of those who fought, who bled, who tried.

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here.

Hardtack and Corn

Hardtack and Corn 

During the American Revolutionary War, the life of a soldier was as much a battle against hunger as it was against the British. Among the most common — and least celebrated — staples of their diet were hardtack and corn.

Hardtack, a simple mixture of flour and water baked into dense, rock-hard biscuits, was designed more for durability than taste. Soldiers often joked that it could break teeth, and many soaked it in broth, coffee, or even rainwater to soften its iron-like texture. In the worst cases, hardtack came with weevils, adding unexpected protein to the meal.

Corn, on the other hand, was served boiled, ground, or sometimes as a porridge known as "hulled corn" or "hominy." Though bland and monotonous, corn was filling and a reliable source of energy, especially during long marches or the harsh winters, like the one endured at Valley Forge.

Despite the poor quality and limited variety of these rations, American soldiers endured — driven by their commitment to the cause of liberty. Hardtack and corn became symbols of both hardship and the iron resolve of those who fought for independence.

Hardtack and Corn or 

The Soldier's Culinary Woes

There once was a soldier so brave,

Who fought for our freedom to save.

But his rations, oh dear, Left much to be feared,

A diet that no one would crave.

 

Hardtack, that brick-like affair,

Could shatter his teeth without care.

He'd soak it in broth, Or gnaw like a sloth,

Praying his gums wouldn't bare.

 

And then came the corn, oh so bland,

Boiled to a pulp, quite unmanned.

He'd slurp it down fast, For flavor didn't last,

In this military planned.

 

Yet through hunger and hardship galore,

Our soldier stood firm to the core.

With hardtack and corn, His battles were borne,

A hero like none before.

 

So raise a glass to those valiant men,

Who saved our young nation back then.

Though their food was a plight, 

They stood strong for the fight,

True patriots, again and again.

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here.

The Strait-laced Soldier's Lament

The shoes of the period where shoes are formed on "Straight Last" meaning there will be no left or right when new.  They are designed to be worn with genuine shoe buckles, not the tie-on imitations.  There were both straight last and left/right or “crooked” colonial shoes. The straight last is more correct for the ordinary persona of the Colonial period, but the crooked last is more comfortable. After being worn a few times, a straight lasted shoe soon molds itself to your foot.  A myth was to never swap shoes and is but a faint foundation in history

The Strait-laced Soldier's Lament

 A continental soldier, brave and bold,

Had shoes that were neither left nor right, I'm told.

Straight lasted, they were, for both his feet,

A revolutionary fashion, oh so neat!

 

He marched all day in his ambidextrous boots,

With genuine buckles, not imitation substitutes.

"Don't swap your shoes!" the sergeant would yell,

A myth that made our soldier's toes rebel.

 

His right foot cried, "I want to be left!"

His left foot sighed, "Of comfort, I'm bereft!"

But soon enough, they molded to his soles,

Though marching still took its tolls.

 

He dreamed of crooked shoes, so comfy and fine,

But straight lasts were all the continental line.

In battles fierce, he'd fight with might,

While his feet couldn't tell their left from right!

 

So next time you see a colonial feat,

Remember the shoes that confused their feet.

For in revolution, they took a stand,

With footwear as straight as the new-born land!

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here. 

 A Revolutionary Christmas Sonnet

In the bitter winter of 1777, General George Washington led his weary Continental Army to set camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. After months of hard campaigning and retreat, the soldiers arrived cold, hungry, and ill-equipped. Their clothes hung in tatters, and many marched with feet wrapped in rags, leaving bloody footprints in the snow.

Valley Forge was no battlefield, but the struggle for survival was relentless. Disease, exposure, and starvation claimed more men than musket fire ever had. The camp became a test of endurance and patriotism. Without proper shelter, the soldiers labored to build crude log huts, each packed with smoke and the scent of damp earth, offering little comfort from the freezing winds.

And yet, amid the suffering, the spirit of revolution endured. Washington’s leadership held the army together. That winter, a Prussian officer, Baron von Steuben, arrived to instill new discipline. Under his sharp eye, ragged farmers were forged into a trained fighting force. Bayonet drills replaced despair, and a new sense of unity took hold.

By spring, the Continental Army marched out of Valley Forge stronger, leaner, and better prepared. The bitter season had not broken them — it had transformed them into a force capable of challenging the world’s strongest empire. Valley Forge became a crucible of American resolve, where sacrifice shaped the future of a nation.

A Revolutionary Christmas Sonnet

Upon the frozen fields where freedom calls,

Beneath the winter's cloak of frost and snow,

Brave soldiers stand as twilight gently falls,

Their steadfast hearts alight with sacred glow.

 

No garlands deck their tents, no festive cheer,

Save for the whispers carried on the breeze.

Yet in their hearts, warm hopes for loved ones near,

Transform the biting cold to memories.

 

They dream of hearths aglow and children's mirth,

Of candlelight that dances soft and bright,

While pledging liberty its rightful birth,

Through endless marches and the perilous fight.

 

O Christmas star, shine on their noble way,

And grant them peace to greet a brighter day.

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here. 

The Art of the Powdered Wig

The American Revolution period provides such rich material for exploring the tension between European military traditions and the practical realities of warfare in North America.

The contrast between elaborate military dress codes and battlefield conditions was particularly stark during this conflict, as British officers had to adapt their traditional practices to the American wilderness and changing warfare tactics.

The Art of the Powdered Wig

Oh, hail the powdered wig, so fine and grand,

A crown of curls crafted by steady hand.

A soldier’s pride, a warrior’s flair,

Even in mud, you must show your care!’

 

With powder puffed and ribbons tied tight,

March into battle, a dazzling sight.

Redcoats may fear your musket’s crack,

But it’s your coiffure that makes them turn back.

The bayonet glints, the cannonballs roar,

Yet your wig’s the masterpiece they adore.

"No dirt on this curl!" you sternly decree,

"Let’s fight like gentlemen, fancy and free!"

 

But alas, the rain mocks your powdered grace,

Transforming your wig to a soggy disgrace.

No "Macaroni" now, just a man of despair,

As the mud claims your elegance, strand by strand, hair by hair.

 

Still, onward you march with a nod and a grin,

Determined your fashion will still win the din.

For to be "A Real Character" at this grand parade,

Is to fight with finesse, your style displayed.

 

So let others wear rags, unkempt and plain,

You’ll conquer with curls, through wind, snow, and rain.

For a wig is not just an accessory, dear friend,

It’s a statement of power—style to the end!

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here. 

 Soldiers Shaving

Poem inspired by the General Washington addresses about beard and cleanliness in the ranks of the Continental Army at Valley Forge, April 1778:

“Slovenliness and unsoldierly neglect in other respects ought rather to excite each man to compensate those blemishes by redoubled attention to the means which he has in his power; For instance, the soldier may always shave his beard, appear with clean hands and face & in general have an air of neatness which will be conspicuous under all disadvantages.”

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-14-02-0402

Soldiers Shaving

On the Twelfth Day, Shaving Must Be Clear

Clean-shaven soldiers, neatness held as pride,

No whisker dared to tarnish ranks' esteem,

In Washington's command, no beards abide.

 

The frontier harsh, yet razors still applied,

Through diaries and orders, clear the theme,

Clean-shaven soldiers, neatness held as pride.

 

No stubble left for fashion to provide,

A shadowed cheek disrupts the proper scheme,

In Washington's command, no beards abide.

 

Through discipline, such blemishes denied,

A soldier's honor bound to shave supreme,

Clean-shaven soldiers, neatness held as pride.

 

With razor’s stroke, their dignity implied,

Their duty sharp, their ranks a polished dream,

In Washington's command, no beards abide.

 

To stray from this, their punishment supplied,

For slovenly neglect, provisions deem,

Clean-shaven soldiers, neatness held as pride,

In Washington's command, no beards abide.

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here. 

A Toast to George Washington

 A Toast to George Washington

It's important to honor the legacy of the man who played a pivotal role in shaping our nation's history.

Let's take a moment to reflect on Washington's enduring legacy and the principles he stood for — unity, perseverance, and service to the nation.

Toast to the Father of Our Nation

With raised glass on the anniversary of his birth February 22, 1732

 

Like winter oak that stands through fierce storms' might,

You bore the weight of nascent nation's dreams.

Though power's siren called through darkest night,

You chose instead to ford democracy's streams.

 

No crown adorned your brow, though it was yours,

Instead you planted seeds of freedom's tree.

Your legacy, like sunrise, still endures

In every heart that yearns to be made free.

 

So let us lift our glasses to your name,

First citizen, who shaped a nation's course.

Not perfect, yes, but history proclaims

Your steadfast vision as our guiding force.

 

Though centuries have passed since you drew breath,

Your virtues triumph over time and death.

This poem is an excerpt from my chapbook "Revolutionary Verse", a free download, or if you prefer a printed copy, buy direct, click here.