Franklin Price Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

If you think I have posted this before, I have. This is the first edit of that version. I've made its syllabic
format more in line with the Battle Hymn and edited some of the verses to better say what I wanted to say. I don't know if I'm through or not. Please offer any comments you feel like giving after you have read this. Also submit any ideas you may have for extra stanzas; not that I don't have quite a few already. Remember, opinions don't matter unless they are given for consideration. These are the times to be involved. I have left the original preface for my attempt, so I can maintain some kind of history for my own reference

The Battle Hymn of the Republic was the rallying song for the United States of America during the Civil War. It was written and published the first time in February 1862; shortly after the war began.  

I woke up this morning, about 4:00 AM with the Battle Hymn on my mind and thought I would try to write words pertaining to our war on the Coronavirus, to be sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I have been working on it for almost five hours and would appreciate your comments on my attempt.

I hope I haven't diminished the seriousness of the original words with the humor, I have used at times, in this attempt.

Here are the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic
Just go to your browser to find versions played by all the Armed Forces Band and Choirs
You won't regret it; very touching

Lyrics
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.
I have read His fiery gospel writ in rows of burnished steel!
"As ye deal with my condemners, so with you My grace shall deal!
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, "
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!
While God is marching on.

God helps us through everything, we only have ask and believe

 

In the Far Off Land of China - Edit 1

In the Far Off Land of China
(To the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic)
Edit 1
By Franklin Price
03/28/2020

In the Far off land of China many thousand miles away
The Coronavirus came to its first human on that day
Was ever more contagious as it traveled on it's way
Its dangers not yet done

If two hundred years ago, would have stayed across the sea
Not have flown around the world, to have come for you and me
Delivered to us overnight, was this Virus we can't see
It spreads across the land

Chorus
Coronavirus is among us 
If we unite it won't defeat us
In its course it may deplete us
Let's strive to make it few

The President has led the way, through this whole entire thing
Though the left and media, have called him a ding-a ling
He's tries to do what's best for us, gives us hope for which to cling
It was not here before

He shut down all the borders, sent the non-essentials home
Organized a varied task force, to address this virus gnome
Through it all his hair looks good, never saw a brush or comb
It has not gotten him

Chorus

Stocks were at their very highest, then this virus came along
The rich began their dumping, gave not a damn about the throng
Could have shown a little caring, profit taking then was wrong
Gains for three years are gone

Unemployment was its lowest, than it was for many years
The economy was booming, lots of smiles not many tears
Then coronavirus came, lay offs have brought on fears
Now we must persevere

Chorus

Each of  us must join the fight, in the best way that we can
Must sequester in our houses, not be with our fellow man
Since it spreads by social closeness, we now have a travel ban
The virus marches on

Wash your hands and do it often, while you sing the birthday song
Don't touch your face or shake a hand, as you daily move along
Keep your distance when you're passing, being safe is never wrong
To slow this virus down

Chorus

The medical community, puts their lives out on the line
Saving ours by risking theirs, could be even yours and mine
We must fight this thing together, we'll overcome it and be fine 
That's what we all must do

Others of us are required, to supply all with our need
Policemen and utilities, those for our mouths to feed
The Farmers, truckers, grocers, are required, yes indeed
 Their jobs make them exposed

Chorus

Millions of us have been laid off, and we're not allowed to work
Not needed for essentials, we're an economic perk
It is coronavirus, not employer, that's the jerk
The bills must still be paid

The Hill without much wisdom, knew that Covid was at fault
Passed a bill that helps the people, and they opened up the vault
Money now, to aid the workers, brings starvation to a halt
They finally did some good

Chorus

We've now been in a quarantine, a couple weeks and more
The deaths and cases growing, just in case you're keeping score
Be patient for a little while, don't venture out your bolted door
We'll shut this virus down

You may be getting crazy, from this isolation stir
The data's being analyzed, to get us back to where we were
To get us back to work again, sometime soon that should occur
There must be safety first

Chorus

It's all about the attitude, that gets us through this virus plight
Did not ask for this war with it, now it's here, must fight the fight
Do whatever's asked of us, as we travel to the light
Together we will win

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