The original draft of the Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson from 11 June 1776 to 28 June 1776. It was finalized and approved by the Congress and printed on the evening of July 4th.
The original document was signed by only John Hancock as President of the Congress and Charles Thompson, as the Secretary of the Congress. Other signatories were added beginning in August and weren't completed for several months.

Declaration Of Independence



Alone in the night,
gazing at the beauty,
of a celestial masterpiece,
yet untouched,
by the cover of cloud,
an unrelenting silence,
is interrupted,
by the insistent ticking,
of an old grandfather clock in the parlor,
a candle with a dual wick,
rests on a table,
made of knotty pine,
roughly chiselled,
to add a rustic touch,
accentuating a floor of polished oak,
provides my only light

I sit watching shadows,
flickering across plaster walls,
mimic eerie phantoms,
slithering throughout the room,
refusing to take recognizable shape,
cause unwanted distraction

The work before me suffers,
in stark contrast,
pitifully begs,
text be laid,
to cover the nudity,
of the page before me

The accomplishments of my life,
pale in contrast,
what keeps me awake this night,
the plight of a nation,
will rest on the passion of my words,
my friends and patriots,
rely on a text,
that will take them from anarchy,
to democracy

Shadows appearing to take shape,
play tricks upon my vision,
reveal a sight,
resembling a picture,
of a united,
uniformly defined crowd,
cheering and waving as one voice,
one sound

Suddenly it becomes clear,
the page before me,
fills with pronouncement,
my chest swells with pride,
what's written this night,
becomes page after page,
until,
finally,
to carry a nation,
desiring riddance,
a Declaration Of Independence