Simon Armitage was appointed as UK's poet laureate in May 2019. And now, after Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, he has written a new poem in honour of the Queen. The poem title 'Floral Tribute' was shared recently by the Royal Family on their social media page.
'Floral Tribute' has two verses, each having nine lines. It is interesting to note that the first letters of each line spells 'Elizabeth', the late Queen's name. In the poem Armitage thanks Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, for "𝐀 promise made and kept for life - that was your gift"; in return he offers his poem to her.
Here's the full poem which was posted by the Royal Family on Instagram:
A poem in memory of Her Majesty The Queen from the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage.
𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞
𝐄vening will come, however determined the late afternoon,
𝐋imes and oaks in their last green flush, pearled in September mist.
𝐈 have conjured a lily to light these hours, a token of thanks,
𝐙ones and auras of soft glare orbing the sprays and globes
𝐀 promise made and kept for life - that was your gift -
𝐁ecause of which, here is a gift in return, glovewort to some,
𝐄ach shining bonnet guarded by stern lance-like leaves.
𝐓he country loaded its whole self into your slender hands,
𝐇ands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.
𝐄vening has come. Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros.
𝐋ily of the Valley, a namesake almost, a favourite flower
𝐈nterlaced with your famous bouquets, the restrained
𝐙eal and forceful grace of its lanterns, each inflorescence
𝐀 silent bell disguising a singular voice. A blurred new day
𝐁reaks uncrowned on remote peaks and public parks, and
𝐄verything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots,
𝐓his lily that thrives between spires and trees, whose brightness
𝐇olds and glows beyond the life and border of its blooms.
Armitage was the sixth person to be appointed as the poet laureate during Queen Elizabeth II's reign. On the occasion of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, he has written the poem 'Queenhood'. And in 2021, paying his tribute to Prince Philip on his death, Armitage had written the poem 'The Patriarchs'.
The honorary position of poet laureate was established in 1668. Originally, the poet laureate was chosen by the reigning King or Queen directly. However, since 1790, the Prime Minister shares his/her recommendation on whom to choose as the poet laureate, while the candidate is officially appointed by the King or Queen.
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