Instead of challenging you during the holidays with a puzzle or a new memory feat, I thought I'd share something fun and amazing that you can simply enjoy.

Christmas isn't the only thing that's ever happened on December 25th, of course. Mental Floss recently listed 9 other things that happened on December 25th, including Washington's crossing of the Delaware.

Back in 1936, David Shulman composed an amazing sonnet entitled Washington Crossing the Delaware, and I'd like to share it with you:

A hard, howling, tossing water scene.
Strong tide was washing hero clean.
"How cold!" Weather stings as in anger.
O Silent night shows war ace danger!

The cold waters swashing on in rage.
Redcoats warn slow his hint engage.
When star general's action wish'd "Go!"
He saw his ragged continentals row.

Ah, he stands - sailor crew went going.
And so this general watches rowing.
He hastens - winter again grows cold.
A wet crew gain Hessian stronghold.

George can't lose war with's hands in;
He's astern - so go alight, crew, and win!

You might be asking yourself, “History? Poetry? Why are these things on Grey Matters?”

As you can tell by this site's slogan, I enjoy all things that train and strain your brain to entertain. Believe it or not, this poem is a great example of that very concept!

Why? Take a close look at the poem, and you'll see that every line is an anagram of the title, Washington Crossing the Delaware!

For example, take the first line of the poem, as seen in the animation below (Java required), and see how it rearranges perfectly into the title, courtesy of the Internet Anagram Server: