Royal Funeral

Royal Funeral

A Poem by David Lewis Paget

The Queen stepped ahead of the gun carriage
That bore the country’s king,
He’d died, they said, in the early hours
In the palace’s east wing,
And now he rode in a state of grace
As the people lined his way,
His coffin high on the gun carriage
Pulled by a pair of greys.

The Queen was hid by a widow’s veil
That covered the sovereign’s face,
It stopped them seeing the evil smile
Hidden behind the lace,
For way behind in a carriage, mad
With power, and bedecked with rings,
And wearing the crown his father had
He was now, ‘Long live the King!’

The Horse Guards led the procession with
Their sabres raised to the sky,
Then came the Dukes and Duchesses
And never an eye was dry,
The King who died was a pleasant king
And beloved of the people’s grace,
So thousands of flags were waved for him
As he travelled along that place.

Then as they reached Horse Guards Parade
The gun carriage gave a lurch,
It hadn’t been fixed too firmly when
They set it up at the church,
The coffin came flying off the top
Flew open and hit the ground,
That’s when a pile of pale white bones
Were scattered about and around.

And rising up from a mutter, there
Was a roar from the waiting crowd,
It started off with a stutter, then 
With a bellowing rage, aloud,
A pile of bones from a new dead king
Just what were they trying to prove?
The Queen was seized by the angry crowd
And her widow’s veil removed.

The Queen with platitudes, tried to speak
But her words were heard in vain,
The people wanted their funeral
There was no way to explain,
They set the coffin back where it was
And ignored her screams and cries,
A single nail in the coffin lid
And a royal to despise.

Then all the way to the cemetery
The people pulled the Queen,
Safe on top of the gun carriage
And only a muffled scream,
The King, arrested, was buried first
In a hole, a deeper drop,
And then his mother, as would beseem
In her coffin, on the top.

And all the while the old king sat
On a terrace in Tuscany,
Sampling all the local wines
And savouring to be free,
Never again to hear the whine
Of that dreadful troll, the Queen,
Or kissing another baby’s head,
Life was but a dream!

David Lewis Paget

© 2016 David Lewis Paget


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Featured Review

Oh my goodness, what an unexpected finale! Clever stuff, Mr. Paget. (OTHER - reviewers do not rush to the end and ruin this fine poem for yourse!ves

As ever your fantastic meter around and within a great tale. - creepy, villainous and all. Seems writing your tales in this medium comes easily to and for you' tho' am certain you examine and re.examine til to your liking.

This has a touch of the macabre.. a touch of Ingoldsby perhaps. Very much your usual standard and quality, sir. .

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.




Reviews

What an unexpected twist to this tale. A lovely read as always.

Posted 1 Month Ago


Very clever indeed. You never cease to amaze readers with your brilliance simply flowing as a river, leading us to unseen pastures and pleasure. Plus surprise upon surprise with 'shock-factor' Bravo!

Posted 6 Years Ago


A perfect ending to the amazing poem and tale. I like the feel of the story leading to surprise ending. Always a pleasure to read your poetry and tale my friend.
Coyote

Posted 7 Years Ago


The end was such a surprise. This is one of the best poems I read!

Posted 7 Years Ago


How amazing that you have a way of holding ones attention to every well metered rhyme and amazing content. I thoroughly enjoyed this poem and wanted more.....so I treated myself to one of the many books of poems that I have shelved....all penned by you! I always discover the many phases of your imagination and wonder, How! Keep up the clever work, Master.....Barbz

Posted 7 Years Ago


This has a surprise ending. I was not expecting him to still be alive surviving her wicked ways. Nice one, caught be napping I guess. Valentine

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Oh my goodness, what an unexpected finale! Clever stuff, Mr. Paget. (OTHER - reviewers do not rush to the end and ruin this fine poem for yourse!ves

As ever your fantastic meter around and within a great tale. - creepy, villainous and all. Seems writing your tales in this medium comes easily to and for you' tho' am certain you examine and re.examine til to your liking.

This has a touch of the macabre.. a touch of Ingoldsby perhaps. Very much your usual standard and quality, sir. .

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.


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443 Views
7 Reviews
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Added on September 3, 2016
Last Updated on September 3, 2016
Tags: Queen, carriage, Dukes, cemetery

Author

David Lewis Paget
David Lewis Paget

Moonta, South Australia, Australia



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