Stephen Vincent Benét

The poet, novelist, and short story writer Stephen Vincent Benét was born in 1898 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, son of Frances Rose and James Walker Benét. Benét's father, who was fond of literature and encouraged his son's

Listen to the People

by Stephen Vincent Benét (1898–1943)

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16

Independence Day, 1941

NARRATOR:

1 This is Independence Day,
Fourth of July, the day we mean to keep,
Whatever happens and whatever falls
Out of a sky grown strange;
5 This is firecracker day for sunburnt kids,
The day of the parade,
Slambanging down the street.
Listen to the parade!
There's J. K. Burney's float,

Click here for complete poem