Have you heard of William Dawes, a member of Old South Meeting House and one of the riders on who sounded the alarm to warn that the British were headed to Lexington & Concord on April 19, 1775? Maybe not - because Longfellows poem was about Paul Revere! To even things up, Helen Moore published a poem about Dawes in 1896 The Midnight Ride of William Dawes: I am a wandering, bitter shade, Never of me was a hero made; Poets have never sung my praise, Nobody crowned my brow with bays; And if you ask me the fatal cause, I answer only, My name was Dawes Tis all very well for the children to hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere; But why should my name be quite forgot, Who rode as boldly and well, God wot? Why should I ask? The reason is clear -- My name was Dawes and his Revere. When the lights from the old North Church flashed out, Paul Revere was waiting about, But I was already on my way. The shadows of night fell cold and gray As I rode, with never a break or a pause; But what was the use, when my name was Dawes! History rings with his silvery name; Closed to me are the portals of fame. Had he been Dawes and I Revere, No one had heard of him, I fear. No one has heard of me because He was Revere and I was Dawes.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:12:09 +0000
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