Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN ODE TO THE QUEEN; ON HER JUBILEE YEAR, by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL Poet's Biography First Line: Sound drums and trumpets, far and near Last Line: And let her live and die in peaceis the end of my song. Subject(s): Anniversaries; Courts & Courtiers; Crowns; Leadership; Victoria, Queen Of England (1819-1901) | ||||||||
SOUND drums and trumpets, far and near! And let all Queen Victoria's subjects loudly cheer! And show by their actions that her they revere, Because she's served them faithfully fifty long year! All hail to the Empress of India and Great Britain's Queen! Long may she live happy and serene! And as this is now her Jubilee year, I hope her subjects will show their loyalty without fear. Therefore let all her subjects rejoice and sing, Until they make the welkin ring; And let young and old on this her Jubilee be glad, And cry, "Long Live our Queen!" and don't be sad. She has been a good Queen, which no one dare gainsay, And I hope God will protect her for many a day; May He enable her a few more years to reign, And let all her lieges sayAmen! Let all hatred towards her be thrown aside All o'er her dominions broad and wide; And let all her subjects bear in mind, By God kings and queens are put in trust o'er mankind. Therefore rejoice and be glad on her Jubilee day, And try and make the heart of our Queen feel gay; Oh! try and make her happy in country and town, And not with Shakspeare say, "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." And as this is her first Jubilee year, And will be her last, I rather fear; Therefore, sound drums and trumpets cheerfully, Until the echoes are heard o'er land and sea. And let the innocent voices of the children at home or abroad Ascend with cheerful shouts to the throne of God; And sing aloud, "God Save our Gracious Queen!" Because a good and charitable Sovereign she has been. Therefore, ye sons of Great Britain, come join with me, And welcome in our noble Queen's Jubilee; Because she has been a faithful Queen, ye must confess, There hasn't been her equal since the days of Queen Bess Therefore let all her lieges shout and cheer, "God Save our Gracious Queen!" for many a year; Let such be the cry in the peasant's cot, and hall, With stentorian voices, as loud as they can bawl. And let bonfires be kindled on every hill, And her subjects dance around them at their freewill; And try to drive dull care away By singing and rejoicing on the Queen's Jubilee day. May God protect her for many a day, At home or abroad when she's far away; Long may she be spared o'er her subjects to reign, And let each and all with one voice sayAmen! Victoria is a good Queen, which all her subjects know, And for that may God protect her from every foe; May He be as a hedge around her, as He's been all along, And let her live and die in peaceis the end of my song. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 1. 1887 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN THE WIDOW AT WINDSOR by RUDYARD KIPLING IDYLLS OF THE KING: DEDICATION by ALFRED TENNYSON IDYLLS OF THE KING: TO THE QUEEN by ALFRED TENNYSON TO THE QUEEN by ALFRED TENNYSON CROWNED AND WEDDED by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE YOUNG QUEEN by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING VICTORIA'S TEARS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING VERSES ON THE QUEEN by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE TAY BRIDGE DISEASTER by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL |
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