Oh Noble Queen

Though her royal diadem is dimmed with age, and letters fade on history’s page
Pretenders creep and gain by stealth, the bestowed gifts of Commonwealth
Though cricket’s played and held by ‘Grace’, has left us all for another place
There’s no reason left to reason why, a call centre voice that speaks, “Mumbai”

Misty eyed, last furtive look, the catches worn upon empires book
And leafing through these regal pages if I could just once catch those ages
And walk on high as a pompous viceroy, to clap and to summon the native boy
And with gentle gaze almost paternal, commit him to the realm eternal

And remind his spirit not to mourn the loss, as empire won at personal cost
And such sacrifice should not aver, an accusatory inference, “ I also serve”

Quentin Cockburn June 2013