Title from caption and first two lines of poem.

Place and date of publication supplied by Montt and Medina.

Place of date of publication based on a notice which appeared on July 9, 1812 in the Aurora de Chile, the nation's first newspaper. The notice stated that the residents of Santiago celebrated U.S. independence day with flags and bunting and circulated among themselves a poem in "octava real" celebrating the day. The poem was most likely printed at the press of the Aurora, which was the only extant printing press in Chile at that time. The poem is a tacit exhortation to the Chilean people to achieve independence from Spain just as the Americans achieved independence from Great Britain.

Full text of poem reads: Vuelve el dia feliz, y esclarecido / De Nuestra libertad y nuestra gloria. / El monstruo de opresion enfurecido / Detesta de este dia la memoria. / El huye, y la vileza lo há seguido / Que engana con promesas de victoria: / Y exclama la virtud.....Americanos / Donde florecen heroes, no hay tiranos.

Medina, J.T. Chile, 25.

Montt, L. Bib. chileana, II:12.