Photo of a young Queen Elizabeth II in regalia‘Queen of Jubilees’ by Paul A. Freeman The Society January 10, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . Queen of Jubilees A Queen there was, revered, of global fame— Elizabeth the Second was her name. For three-score-years-and-ten she ruled the roost and gave us Brits a self-assuring boost through walkabouts and bric-a-brac that bore her likeness. She was loved by rich and poor who visited each town and rural place her palaces and castles took up space. Her Silver, Gold and Diamond Jubilees were past, as were those days we ruled the seas. Her reign had overseen an Empire’s fall, yet she remained a constant to us all. Upon her final, Platinum, jubilee, we rallied to her gracious Majesty, and while the world around grew ever strange, her strength of presence steadied us for change. . Originally published in The Daily Mail on September 22, 2022 . . Paul A. Freeman is the author of Rumours of Ophir, a crime novel which was taught in Zimbabwean high schools and has been translated into German. In addition to having two novels, a children’s book and an 18,000-word narrative poem (Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers!) commercially published, Paul is the author of hundreds of published short stories, poems and articles. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. CODEC Stories:Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) 15 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson January 10, 2023 As an American, I fully understood the value of the steadying influence and the contribution of the “strength of her presence” as the beloved heart and soul of Great Britain. This lovely and heartfelt poem reflects that admirably. Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks for the reading, Roy. It still seems strange that it’s all ‘God save the King!’ now. Reply Paul Buchheit January 10, 2023 Paul, this is a very nice tribute to the longest-reigning woman in history! Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thank you, Paul. I felt I had to sum up someone extraordinary who had been a part of the background of my entire life. Reply Betty Glaz January 10, 2023 Paul, I congratulate you on your rhyme scheme and meter. At first glance, I thought your poem was a sonnet, but 16 lines do not a sonnet make. Queen Elizabeth II was greatly admired by most Americans. Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 I get the feeling QEII was admired, or grudgingly admired, almost universally; but yes, a lot of fandom in America. Though I write a lot of sonnets (about 110 so far), I’m a great fan of rhyming couplets for an easier vehicle to convey my exact thoughts, feelings and meaning, especially when writing about people. I’m glad the meter and rhyme scheme worked for you. Thank you for reading and commenting. Reply Mary Gardner January 10, 2023 Paul, thank you for your moving and well-written poem honoring Queen Elizabeth. Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 And thank you for reading and being so positive about the poem, Mary. Reply Jeff Eardley January 10, 2023 Paul, this is a great tribute to the old girl. Hope Harry gets to see it. Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks, Jeff. I think Harry’s too busy doing the chat show circuit to be bothered with little old me. Reply Brian Yapko January 10, 2023 Thank you for this, Paul. Your poem is a wonderful and heartfelt tribute to a woman of great dignity. Not only did she admirably shoulder her duties and demonstrate the greatest loyalty and commitment to her nation and Commonwealth — she did so with enormous grace and poise. She was an inspiration to all. The likes of Elizabeth II will not be seen again and we do well to remember what true royalty looks like. Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks for the comment, Brian. She really was one of a kind. Reply Margaret Coats January 11, 2023 Paul, this is a stalwart and steady octet of heroic couplets well suited to the majestic subject. I am not surprised it was chosen for publication by a major British journal in the wake of the Queen’s death. Elizabeth II has been part of the background for lives worldwide, especially in English-speaking lands. Over 90% of the world’s population was born during her reign! My Platinum Jubilee trip to England is only one of many, but it is now more memorable than any except the very first. Of things that bear Elizabeth’s likeness, I will keep a fresh 10-pound note with her on one side and Jane Austen on the other. Can’t imagine turning it in to a bank later, just to receive a spendable one featuring a portrait of Charles. Reply Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks for reading and commenting, Margaret. It will indeed feel strange seeing Charles III on the coinage and bank notes. You’re mention of the ten pound note (the tenner) set off a little train of thought whose linguistic peculiarity might amuse you: I’m sure you’ll be interested to know that the five pound note (with Winston Churchill on the one side), will continue to be referred to in Cockney parlance as ‘a Lady Godiva’ (i.e. a fiver), as in ‘I’ve got a Lady Godiva in me sky rocket, me old china’ – meaning ‘I have a fiver in my pocket, mate.’ * china (plate) = mate – sometimes only the first of a pair of words is used in Cockney rhyming slang Anyhow, thanks again for reading and commenting. Reply Margaret Coats January 11, 2023 Never had to contend with Cockneys! Regional accents and usages are fairly easy for me because I tend to stay in commercial and academic surroundings, AND because some kind person interprets when necessary. This bit from you is most interesting because you explain! Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy Eugene Peterson January 10, 2023 As an American, I fully understood the value of the steadying influence and the contribution of the “strength of her presence” as the beloved heart and soul of Great Britain. This lovely and heartfelt poem reflects that admirably. Reply
Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks for the reading, Roy. It still seems strange that it’s all ‘God save the King!’ now. Reply
Paul Buchheit January 10, 2023 Paul, this is a very nice tribute to the longest-reigning woman in history! Reply
Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thank you, Paul. I felt I had to sum up someone extraordinary who had been a part of the background of my entire life. Reply
Betty Glaz January 10, 2023 Paul, I congratulate you on your rhyme scheme and meter. At first glance, I thought your poem was a sonnet, but 16 lines do not a sonnet make. Queen Elizabeth II was greatly admired by most Americans. Reply
Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 I get the feeling QEII was admired, or grudgingly admired, almost universally; but yes, a lot of fandom in America. Though I write a lot of sonnets (about 110 so far), I’m a great fan of rhyming couplets for an easier vehicle to convey my exact thoughts, feelings and meaning, especially when writing about people. I’m glad the meter and rhyme scheme worked for you. Thank you for reading and commenting. Reply
Mary Gardner January 10, 2023 Paul, thank you for your moving and well-written poem honoring Queen Elizabeth. Reply
Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 And thank you for reading and being so positive about the poem, Mary. Reply
Jeff Eardley January 10, 2023 Paul, this is a great tribute to the old girl. Hope Harry gets to see it. Reply
Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks, Jeff. I think Harry’s too busy doing the chat show circuit to be bothered with little old me. Reply
Brian Yapko January 10, 2023 Thank you for this, Paul. Your poem is a wonderful and heartfelt tribute to a woman of great dignity. Not only did she admirably shoulder her duties and demonstrate the greatest loyalty and commitment to her nation and Commonwealth — she did so with enormous grace and poise. She was an inspiration to all. The likes of Elizabeth II will not be seen again and we do well to remember what true royalty looks like. Reply
Margaret Coats January 11, 2023 Paul, this is a stalwart and steady octet of heroic couplets well suited to the majestic subject. I am not surprised it was chosen for publication by a major British journal in the wake of the Queen’s death. Elizabeth II has been part of the background for lives worldwide, especially in English-speaking lands. Over 90% of the world’s population was born during her reign! My Platinum Jubilee trip to England is only one of many, but it is now more memorable than any except the very first. Of things that bear Elizabeth’s likeness, I will keep a fresh 10-pound note with her on one side and Jane Austen on the other. Can’t imagine turning it in to a bank later, just to receive a spendable one featuring a portrait of Charles. Reply
Paul Freeman January 11, 2023 Thanks for reading and commenting, Margaret. It will indeed feel strange seeing Charles III on the coinage and bank notes. You’re mention of the ten pound note (the tenner) set off a little train of thought whose linguistic peculiarity might amuse you: I’m sure you’ll be interested to know that the five pound note (with Winston Churchill on the one side), will continue to be referred to in Cockney parlance as ‘a Lady Godiva’ (i.e. a fiver), as in ‘I’ve got a Lady Godiva in me sky rocket, me old china’ – meaning ‘I have a fiver in my pocket, mate.’ * china (plate) = mate – sometimes only the first of a pair of words is used in Cockney rhyming slang Anyhow, thanks again for reading and commenting. Reply
Margaret Coats January 11, 2023 Never had to contend with Cockneys! Regional accents and usages are fairly easy for me because I tend to stay in commercial and academic surroundings, AND because some kind person interprets when necessary. This bit from you is most interesting because you explain!
