The Queen's Long Journey
"she carved her own road . . . "
Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom
(2022, speech on the death of Queen Elizabeth II)
Act One
The scene begins with Queen Elizabeth II laying in state at Westminster Hall
It has been many days and millions have walked past her coffin with respect,
some without a look, some with tears. It is very grand and regal, with the
crown of diamonds on top the coffin and flowers. She was 96 years old and
Queen for 70 years.
Oh, all the royalty and impressive uniforms and detail. Yes, indeed no cost has been spared. But, the Queen is getting weary of all the driving about,
of the parades and laying in state here and there, she just wants to rest in peace with her husband and parents in their silent tomb and be remembered
in history as a good Queen. Her work is done.
Act Two
Finally, the day of the funeral has arrived and there is a grand parade and
display of military and music, 96 gun salutes and church bells ringing, a long
procession through the streets and thousands of people watching.
But, in a park two elderly ladies sit talking. They are dressed in their brightest
dresses, with pearl necklaces and earrings, and fancy brooches. One lady was
saying, "oh the Queen was so dedicated to her people and kind, so inspiring
and strong. "Indeed," agrees the second lady, "and funny too." And they
both laugh, "delightful when she let down her guard she was."
The first lady says, "remember when she got a knife stuck in a cake
she was cutting at a party, and I love the time she met Donna the
elephant at the opening of a zoo and was feeding her bananas,
everyone was worried Donna would lunge forward, but the Queen was fearless. She seemed to have no worries for her safety."
Act Three
So, as the world wept and watched the funeral, two elderly ladies in a park reminisced. "Did you know she owned thirty Corgis dogs during her life, breeding them, and even created a "Dorgis" by breeding a Corgis and a Dachshund," said the first lady.
They chuckle about that for a bit, sighing. Then second lady says, "did you
know she loved cows, had a herd of them and one hundred horses, too, oh what a sweet character she was, she told a reporter she would have liked to be a farmer, imagine that! "
They are quiet, then the first lady says, "will miss her lovely smile
and those blue sparkling eyes, heaven has gained an angel for sure !"
So, they sit together on a park bench chuckling and remembering the
Queen and silly things she did during her reign (with a tear and a smile).
___________________
September 21, 2022
Poetry/Narrative/The Queen's Long Journey
Copyright Protected, ID 09-1489-555-21
All Rights Reserved, 2022, Constance La France
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