In December 2014, construction workers at Boston’s State House uncovered America’s oldest known time capsule. A month later, the contents were revealed at the Museum of Fine Arts, almost 220 years after they were buried by Governor Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and William Scollay on July 4, 1795.
Inside the capsule were some folded newspapers, coins (including a Pine Tree Shilling dating back to 1652), a metal depicting President George Washington, and a silver plaque believed to be engraved by Paul Revere.
The capsule was placed at the new State House (as opposed to the “Old” State House, where the Boston Massacre occurred) in a ceremony dedicating the new House to the principles our country was built upon.
In “Freedom’s Ring,” my historical heroine Liberty, who is acquainted with Governor Adams through her brother’s death in the Massacre, leaves a poem in this time capsule. Besides the antique ring featured in my novel, Liberty’s poem is one of the main connecting points between Liberty and Annie, my contemporary heroine. While I’m not a poet, I did enjoy writing the prose. Both my Mom, who is a gifted poet herself, and my editor, Caleb, helped me make it a bit more worthy for such an awesome privilege as (fictitiously, anyway) being placed in the Time Capsule.
Freedom’s Ring (The Poem)
Across the swell of seas
in the midst of church bells’ ring
you came to me.
Despised for the scarlet coat,
shadow of enemies at your throat,
you came to me.
Bitterness and betrayal won,
on that fifth of March the fight begun.
Sorrow and secrets I bore alone,
for guilt and remorse left unatoned.
The ring not mine but yours, I know;
untold grief was mine to sow.
My sins you chose to forget
in a final act of selflessness.
Come April on the Green,
You shed your blood. . .still scarlet.
I despise the color through and true.
I shall recall the symbol of love and strife
as long as God above may grant me life.
Forgive me for my blinded eyes,
freedom’s ring and colors lie.
You were not the enemy after all.
And when at heaven’s gates I call
I remember. . .
“Victory belongs to the one who is strong.”
I will cling to Him all the dark night long.
A burst of freedom within my heart,
the ring I stole…my guilt departs.
as church bells ring and freedom chimes,
I remember.
~Liberty Gregory, 1795