In this case, the name does not say all
For we could not call this man’s feat small
As he taught us to try
To set sights ever high
Only then can we truly stand tall

Event: Philippe Petit (whose last name means “small” in French) walked a high wire between the two towers of the World Trade Center
Year: 1974
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Petit

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

“Would you grammar nuts give it a rest?
I was boosting the pride of the West
Whether doughnuts or no,
They need reason to crow
Not to pass some dumb article test!”

Event: John F. Kennedy gives his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech
Year: 1963
Learn more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner

“Mr. Cartwright, I know it’s just fun
But the winning, that don’t count for none
I mean, we wrote the rules!
Now we look like damn fools
They got twenty-three; we just got one!”

Event: The first recorded game of baseball played under organized rules
Year: 1846
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Cartwright
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_baseball

Imagawa was marching along
Took a quick break for wine, dance, and song
Nobunaga said, “Hey!
Why not me? Not today?”
Thus the name of the bold one lives long

Event: Oda Nobunaga rises to prominence with a successful surprise attack against a vastly larger force in the Battle of Okehazama
Year: 1560
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Okehazama

All those murders may cause you distress
For two days on this so-called “express”
But it was the most cool
Way to see Istanbul
How you go now is anyone’s guess

Event: The first Orient Express train leaves Paris
Year: 1883
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orient_express