Thomas proved to be Henry’s black beast
But did he really want him deceased?
Four knights him overheard
Took him just at his word
And rid him of that turbulent priest

Event: Assassination of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury
Year: 1170
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Becket#Assassination

Though the Germans were kicking their butts
The old One-Oh-First still showed their guts
Asked to give up Bastogne
McAuliffe was not thrown
To the Germans he wrote one word: “NUTS!”

Event: U.S. 101st Airborne refuses to surrender in the Battle of the Bulge
Year: 1944
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe#.22Nuts.22

On the northern isle of Hokkaido
Lived the brief republic of Ezo
Enomoto did claim
‘Twas in the Emp’ror’s name
But in the end to prison he’d go

Event: Foundation of the Ezo Republic
Year: 1868
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezo_Republic

Sweet and fitting, I find, ’tis to praise
Those whose words stand out through hist’ry’s haze
So when you seize the day
Send a few thoughts his way
“Carpe diem” was Horace’s phrase

Event: Birth of Roman poet Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus)
Year: 65 BC
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace

Some rebellions require much thought
But sometimes sitting’s how people fought
Rosa Parks, she sat thus
On that Montgom’ry bus
Leading to that most famous boycott

Event: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white man
Year: 1955
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks#Montgomery_Bus_Boycott

The first thing the hominids did gain
Was thought to be an enlarg’ed brain
But before you can talk
You must first walk the walk
Finding Lucy helped to make that plain

Event: Johanson and Gray discover Australopithecus afarensis skeleton, nicknamed Lucy
Year: 1974
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_%28Australopithecus%29

Oh the presidency, it looked sick
As the scandal was molasses-thick
Accusations were hurled
To press at Disneyworld
“I am not a crook,” said Tricky Dick

Event: Richard Nixon tells Associated Press, “I am not a crook”
Year: 1973
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal

Every morning young children they greet
To make their brains with knowledge replete
Even adults, I bet
Can tell you how to get
How to get there, to Sesame Street

Event: Sesame Street debuts
Year: 1969
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sesame_Street

Roosevelt was all ready to go
But Colombia wanted more dough
Revolt he did promote
Backed up by a gunboat
Got the Canal Zone cheap: quid pro quo

Event: Panama separates from Colombia
Year: 1903
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_Panama_from_Colombia

While the tactics also deserve mention
Just one part of this fight gets attention
Though the details aren’t clear
This is all that you’ll hear:
“Constantine’s win? Divine intervention”

Event: Constantine has his “vision” before winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Year: 312
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Milvian_Bridge#Vision_of_Constantine