The Ride of Young Bobby Kennedy

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…”
(Longfellow, 1860)

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the life of young Bobby, a Kennedy seer,
In the ’60s he lived, a time of great change,
When the world he knew would soon rearrange.

His grandmother said, “Remember the past,
Our family’s story, may it ever last.
Like Paul Revere’s ride, brave and true,
You too shall face trials, see them through.”

Hardly a boy who would later recall
That famous lesson, immortal to all,
When suddenly his world began to quake,
As fate dealt blows, his heart would break.

First came the news on a November day,
His uncle, the President, was taken away.
The lantern of Camelot, once burning bright,
Was snuffed out swiftly in Dallas that night.

Then five years on, in a California hall,
Another shot rang, another would fall.
His father, a hero, with dreams to fulfill,
Silenced forever against his will.

Young Bobby stood, now a man at fourteen,
Thrust into a role he’d never foreseen.
Like Revere he’d ride, through a darkened land,
A leader to siblings, with burdens at hand.

Through years that followed, through trouble and strife,
He carried the weight of a turbulent life.
In rivers and courtrooms, he found his call,

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To fight for justice, to stand tall for all.
So, listen, dear children, to this tale so true,
Of a boy who grew up with much to pursue.
From tragedy’s depths, he rose to the task,
In service and purpose, no more could you ask.

Now whenever challenges darken the sky,
Remember young Bobby, his spirit held high.
For in every Kennedy, brave and strong,
Echoes the courage of those long gone.

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NB: This poem and a separate article on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were written before he gave up his independent run for the presidency to support Donald Trump.