Peace? Hope!

Behold white flower of virgin bright
All hail, this wonderous sight
Step forth this day princess green
Stand 'afore thy public, be thee seen
Proclaim thy birth, thy royal blood
Announce all, all as you should
By decree, is our kingdom yours
From our hearts see! The love it pours
We, thy subjects one and all
With voices loud we stand, we call
All hail your majesty, your reign begins
Oh Queen and protector, forgive our sins
Lead us forth this day to glory
Ignore the battle, the bodies gory
We stand as fodder for the cannon
So for thee, the battle may be won
Our wives, children, mourn they might
As we give ourselves for your blood rite
The enemy whose lands you pillage
Oblivious to your black-teethed rage
Slaughtered, misled by snakes head guile
Massacred for your desires vile
Small people with little chance
Against your mighty sword's dance
Virgin butcher, your royal whim
Bloody handed, lead-face grim
Thy father's daughter in blood and more
Corpulent desire to satiate with gore
Conquest and power thy sole desire
Innocents, women and children to the pyre
Ah my Queen, my Queen, see what you started
The war continued long after you departed
And only now, near five centuries gone
Does it ease, though no side has won
Our own Queen, named she as you
Shakes hand with another, bloodied it's true
But in that gesture, peace's desperate grope
Finally! Finally! Might there be Hope


Terry Rhiannyr
June, 2012


Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 - 24 March 1603)

Elizabeth II (21 April 1926 - present)




BELFAST, Northern Ireland - Wednesday, June 27, 2012:

Queen Elizabeth II and former Irish Republican Army commander, Martin McGuinness, offered each other the hand of peace in a long-awaited encounter symbolising Northern Ireland's progress in achieving reconciliation after centuries of violence.