1492 Columbus Poem Review
Undoubtedly, you have heard the little poem about Christopher Columbus sailing off in search of India in 1492. It’s a cute rhyme used to teach children about Columbus, but there is much more to the story than we’ve learned in school.
During the month of October, we are going on our own voyage of discovery about “the Admiral of the Sea, Christopher Columbus” and why he has been celebrated over the centuries. If you have read many of my One Nation Under God articles, you know that I really like discovering and writing about the back-stories; not just the facts but the heart of the matter.
I’ve found several valuable resources about Columbus, including the Log of his first voyage to the Americas; translated from Spanish to English by Robert H. Fuson. I was fortunate to find a limited and numbered edition. It is signed by Lee Iacocca, former Chairman of the Chrysler Corporation through the United States Historical Society. Several other insightful historic sources include William J. Federer’s, “American Minute”; and a tiny-print book, “Great Epochs in American History, published in 1912.
Background information: Over 500-years before Columbus’ voyage, other civilizations had been exploring by ship – some in the Pacific Ocean and some across the Atlantic Ocean. Not all voyages and discoveries were documented, but there seems to be enough evidence of Erik the Red and his descendants founding colonies in Greenland, Iceland and Vineland (America). His son, Leif Erickson returned to Norway, encountered Irish Christians, and accepted the Christian faith. He also voyaged to Vineland, bringing back lumber and hides for colonies in Iceland.
According to “Great Epochs in American History,” no other traces of a Norman colony in America were found until 1059, when John, an Irish priest and missionary, who preached in Iceland, ventured to Vineland (America). His purpose was to convert the colonists to Christianity. Then in 1121, a bishop named Erik from Greenland, ventured to Vineland for the same purpose. The book also mentions two brothers named Zeni, who sailed in the service of a Norman prince in the late 1300’s. The narrative continues to claim that these brothers sailed to New England, Carolina and possibly Mexico; and encountered natives who revered the symbol of the cross and had books eritten in Latin (which the natives couldn’t read but had preserved). Isn’t it interesting that hundreds of years before the Pilgrims arrived on our shores and established the Mayflower Compact, there were Christian missionaries evangelizing in America?
Meanwhile, on the European continent, from the 711 to 1492, Moors had conquered and dominated most of the Iberian Peninsula, which included Spain, Portugal and southern France. On January 2, 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella managed to conquer Granada, the last remaining Moorish part of Spain. With the end of the 700 year domination by the Moors, the whole of Spain was united.
Unfortunately, the Spanish monarchs began the Spanish Inquisition in 1478, and the eventual expulsion of all Jews from Spain. And here, at this time in history, is where Christopher Columbus becomes an important figure in world history.
Here is the complete poem of 1492 Christopher Columbus written by Jean Marzollo.
In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.
He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.
A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.
Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.
Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.
Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.
October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!
“Indians! Indians!” Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.
But “India” the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.
The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.
Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he’d been told.
He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.
The first American? No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.