Poem for today by Fran Thurling
Arts Richmond
Online - 07 June 2020
The lost dress
Thistle, rose, daffodil,
bird, squirrel, deer, a bear
stitched on Italian cloth of silver thread.
This is my dress.
Princess, bastard, Lady,
in and out of favour.
A motherless pawn in intriguing times,
I lived the fear.
Now become Majesty
I must outshine, surpass.
Let them kneel before my magnificence.
I don my dress.
I put on my white mask,
my pearls of purity.
I am Elizabeth, Gloriana.
I do not age.
by Fran Thurling
{In winter 2019/20 an exhibition at Hampton Court Palace displayed pieces of rare C16th embroidered cloth known as the Bacton Altar Cloth. It is now accepted that this is from a dress belonging to Queen Elizabeth I.}
The lost dress
Arts Richmond Virtual Art Exhibition
The Roger McGough Annual Poetry Prize 2020
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