06 June 2013

Poetry Thursday - coronation anniversary

This was worn in 1953 by Helen Clark of north London, and is now in the Museum of London -
The print commemorates the Coronation, 60 years ago this week. Here's a closeup showing Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey in the border, and lots of crowns floating around among other bits of pagentry -
The Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, wrote "The Crown" to be read at the anniversary service in Westminster Abbey -

The crown translates a woman to a Queen –
endless gold, circling itself, an O like a well,
fathomless, for the years to drown in – history's bride,
anointed, blessed, for a crowning. One head alone
can know its weight, on throne, in pageantry,
and feel it still, in private space, when it's lifted:
not a hollow thing, but a measuring; no halo,
treasure, but a valuing; decades and duty. Time-gifted,
the crown is old light, journeying from skulls of kings
to living Queen.
                                           Its jewels glow, virtues; loyalty's ruby, blood-deep; sapphire's ice resilience; emerald evergreen;
the shy pearl, humility. My whole life, whether it be long
or short, devoted to your service.
 Not lightly worn.

1 comment:

Jill Dian said...

I remember watching the Coronation via TV. But not only was it a grey drizzly day the tiny TV screen was grey and fuzzy...and not at all colourful like this lovely dress...I was very disappointed by the whole thing and went outside to play in the street!