It has been one of those liminal long weekends, where days seem to blur and flow together. The cause of this has been the celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II here in the UK, with bunting and street parties and many displays of Royalist joy.
I am not a royalist, but I am mindful that Queen Elizabeth II represents a constant through out the turmoil and change of the last 70 of social, economic and political upheaval. Though the Royals have not always set the best example to society, and will no doubt continue to display defects in their humanity on regular occasion, the consistency and dignity (in the royal sense) that the Queen has brought is something worthy of recognition.
In truth the Jubilee should have taken place in February but if its too cold and wet for British Pagans to be working skyclad for Imbolc then its too cold and wet to trot out a 90 odd year old woman for the trooping of the colours. That being said the thoughts and opinions about the event expressed by Pagans in this February article about the Jubilee are as relevant in June as they were in February though this is a better time to share a poem to mark the occasion.
If charm were a country, then you would be
Its capital of many domes and spires
Gilded and gleaming off a crystal sea,
And graced with every art that love inspires.If beauty a nation, then you, its queen,
Would wield the scepter of love’s dazzling power
Beguiling all thy subjects with serene
And regal allure from a silver tower.Alas, the fairest flow’rs remain unknown
Behind the garden walls of married life;
And thou, the loveliest, shouldst not bemoan
The humble title of a poet’s wife:To capitals yet made these lines proclaim
For Elizabeth by Joseph Charles MacKenzie
Eternal love, and gild thy beauty’s fame.
Knot Magick 