On Christopher Columbus, Pete Rose, and Texas Schools

Written by John Streamas   

Columbus Day, 2012


In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the oceans blue,
Though planting flags was not indicative
Of what he’d do to all those natives.

In nineteen hundred eighty-five
Pete Rose kept fans’ hopes alive,
Broke Ty Cobb’s record, which they knew he’d do
At forty-one hundred and ninety-two.

Though Rose, like Columbus, is much discredited,
Texas schools will teach them unedited,
As the heroes that the myths proclaimed,
No qualifying asterisks beside their names.