Francis Scott Key Poem by Tom Billsborough

'I inscribe this chant for all my people' St Jean Perse

Out on a vessel in Chesapeake Bay
A young man arose at the break of the day
With nightmarish thoughts of Baltimore burning
After the memory of Washington's terror.
As he climbed to the deck, his stomach was churning
With great trepidation at the expected horror.
But then, in the distance a flag was unfurling
Over Fort McHenry his flag was still there!
How his heart leapt as he climbed up the rigging:
'Say, can't you see? ' he cried to his brothers.
And the air was rent with their loud, long cheering.
And then he sat down and wrote out his poem
A song for his people, a great national anthem.