Two Years into the War of 1812

Two years into the war of 1812
The White House was seized and burned
The President was safe thus there was hope still
And for striking back, hard, we turned

Some soldiers were cut off and captured
In a small town the British retaliated
As from his bed a doctor was seized
The fighting, thus, escalated

Our government seeking to free
This elderly doctor and friend
Sent of two, (one Francis Scott Key)
To offer a prisoner exchange in the end

A flag of truce was waved
They entered the British ship
And the exchange was made
Though, not yet, were they allowed to trip

The battle that night was fierce
With combatants, each other pursuing
It would take sunshine to pierce
Through the smoke from the battle ensuing

Fort McHenry had little defense
Its large flag would tell it all
Through the night, nervous and tense
In the morning, how it stood tall!

Overcome by the sight, with much emotion
Key wrote most of the words to a song
As a patriot, expressing devotion
To our God, who had kept the land strong

He continued to write
As soon as they arrived ashore
A relative helped him find the tune that night
Then it was handbilled throughout Baltimore

Now as our national anthym
It is sung as our flag is raised
As chests filled with pride often tears brim
With the words so powerfully praised

And as each raises their eyes
Unto the flag freely waving
Let us too, look up to the skies
And give thanks to God for our saving

I love the fact that Francis Scott Key was an amateur poet (like me).
Who was better to write this than one trying to serve his country and bravely working negotiations to free an innocent and elderly man.
This banner, the largest battle flag in existence, measures 36 by 29 feet. It was made by Mrs. Mary Young Pickersgill and her two nieces for exactly $405.90. The material was cut at Mrs. Pickersgill's home, "No. 60 Albemarle Street, Old Town" (Pratt and Albemarle Streets, Baltimore), and carried to a nearby brewery, where it was sewed together in anticipation of the British attack on the fort.