People queued for miles, people queued for hours - almost for a entire day - just so that they could make their way to Westminster Hall in London to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II as she lay-in-state in her coffin by bowing their heads and saying a solemn goodbye to the only Queen of England that generations of people have grown up with and who people young and old respected, loved, cherished, and will miss more than anyone can ever know. People queued through the darkness of the night... people queued through the bright sunshine of the day... people queued along with thousands of others - including world leaders and celebrities - because they wanted the opportunity to be in the presence of the body of The Queen and so that they could give this extraordinary woman the gift of their time... people queued, people waited - which the British public are famous for doing better than anyone, it has be stated - and after they finally got to see the flag draped casket of The Queen, some people were genuinely moved to tears because the experience overcame them and moved them in such a powerful and unexpected way. People queued to be a part of history... people queued to share this momentous time in the history of the British Royal family, the history of the United Kingdom, and the history of the world itself, with ordinary members of the public who felt a genuine connection and an affection for The Queen the like of which no other Monarch - past, present, or future - will ever know, will ever feel, nor will ever see... people chose to use their own two feet - as their path took them alongside the River Thames and the landmarks that can be seen - to give something back to the woman whose face still graces British stamps, British bank notes, as well as photographic and physical accurate artistic representations of this once in a lifetime icon who will never be forgotten; and if those people from all around the world who made the choice to travel to London and gather together in rememberance and in solidarity with the members of the Royal Family and the new King of England, King Charles III, were asked would they do what they did again, I believe almost all of them would say and agree that they believed that by standing in line with thousands of other people they were doing something important, impactful, and incredible by queuing for The Queen.
The Queen
My Poem “Her Majesty”
I will never forget the 8th of September, 2022 - the day that I and the entire nation of Great Britain mourned the passing of Queen Elizabeth the second... it had been raining on and off all day - and for some reason when I heard that members of the Royal Family were rushing to be by The Queen's side I had a feeling that we soon may be witnessing the end of her reign. When it was announced that The Queen had died, I must admit that I and my family did indeed cry - because we had lived with The Queen all our lives, and she had always been like a grandmother to our entire nation whose image we had seen and carried with us wherever we went and whenever we needed to use some physical pounds and pence. Things will never be the same again... now King Charles III will take his mother's place as the head of state... now when we sing the national anthem we will have to say "God Bless The King" instead of "God Bless The Queen"... this year The Queen celebrated having spent 70 years on the throne - 70 years in which she showed true strength, grace, regality, and a sense of duty to her people and the country that she loved... Queen Elizabeth II and I shared the same birthday - the 21st of April - and though we were not at all close in age I always considered the fact that we were born on the same day and the same month to be something special to me, for some reason. It is the end of an era... it is the end of what is it being referred to as the "second Elizabethan Age"... it is the end of one reign and the beginning of another - but no matter what happens going forwards nothing will be the same... it is with a deep and profound sense of sadness that I must write about the death of a woman who was inspiring and influential to so many people in so many ways for seven decades - and even though I was never lucky enough to get the chance to meet The Queen personally, I will always remember her as being someone who every year I wanted to watch the Christmas message of, someone who personified the importance of obligation, pride, duty, legacy, and family - which is why I will always think fondly of The Queen, Elizabeth II, Her Majesty.
21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022
Mark The Poet 