To be counted among the world’s best
Even once, most would think themselves blessed
But from all athletes’ primes
It is twenty-two times
That puts you just a cut ‘bove the rest

Event: Michael Phelps wins his 18th and 19th medals, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time (and then he won three more)
Year: 2012
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multiple_Olympic_medalists
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Phelps

Of the honor of Musketeers three
Though it seems there were four, actually
Of the limitless grief
In the Chateau called “d’If”
These Dumas wrote, to you and to me

Event: Birth of Alexandre Dumas
Year: 1802
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Dumas

The big opening? Not quite as planned
So by critics at first it was panned
But if you don’t mind lines
Go check out the designs
Of Disney’s remarkable Land

Event: Disneyland is dedicated
Year: 1955
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland

To be queen for a week sounds okay
But not so for one Lady Jane Grey
Raised up by cousin Ed
She would soon be quite dead
In the Tower she did not long stay

Event: Lady Jane Grey becomes Queen of England
Year: 1553
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Jane_Grey

When it came to see who’d Deutschland keep
It was Prussia who’d end ‘top the heap
They had Bismarck, no dud
With his iron and blood
And the Hapsburgs could do naught but weep

Event: The Battle of Königgrätz, decisive battle in the Austro-Prussian War
Year: 1866
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_K%C3%B6niggratz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Prussian_War