Poem written by my great-grandfather, William Hunter: to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 81st Birthday.
When morning’s sun with golden beams
First streaks the eastern sky
We hear the beating of the drum
And there a flag floats high
And as the orb of day ascends
We hear that same loved lay
“God Save the Queen” is sung by friends
Upon the Queen’s birthday
It’s three and sixty years ago
A youthful maiden fair
Came to the throne, received a crown
And still she’s sitting there
This earth has never seen the like
Go search where’er you may
Of all these three and sixty years
This is the greatest day
She had gained a place in every heart
Throughout her vast domain
Not only o’er her people rules
But in their hearts she reigns
All rulers sure can learn of her
Why – she’s a great success
A faithful wife, a mother true
But queenly none the less
One thing has helped our noble Queen
With home and nations cares
And that one thing we all have seen
Is a nation’s stream of prayers
And prayers ascend from Afric’s shores
Where lances flash and gleam
Midst battles rush, and cannons’ roar
Arise, “God Save our Queen”
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I sent this poem to Queen Elizabeth II in 1993 to lend support when all heck was breaking loose with Charles & Diana and there was a fire at Windsor Castle. Here is her reply:
