Q is for Queen Elizabeth II


During the 1960's when I was in grade school, I remember there always being a framed photograph of Queen Elizabeth II in every Canadian classroom.

Here is a poem I've written based on those recollections from a child's perspective.

I still like Queen Elizabeth today and admire her strength and tenacity. 
And yes, it's obvious, she still is the boss! Too bad, Charles!

Did you know Queen Elizabeth went to school with me?
I’m not kidding as you can plainly see,
Dressed in her robe, a crown upon her head
She’d watch and listen to whatever I said,
With splendid jewels and a fancy gown
She was the best dressed queen in town,
Every morning I’d sing God Save the Queen
I did this each day until I was a teen,
I was nervous of the queen always watching me
So I’d try my hardest to be good as could be,
I tried my best not to make her cross
It was obvious that she was the boss.

Comments

  1. ChocolattezApril 19, 2013 at 2:17 PM

    I think we had pics of the president etc in the main office but not in the classrooms... I guess it would cost too much to replace them every 4 years or so... funny to think she was listening to you...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 19, 2013 at 3:35 PM

      Was it scary having the president's pic staring at you? I never remember having the prime minister's photo at school when I was a kid but the queen's photo was always there and she was staring right at me, HONEST!

      Thanks for dropping by, Chocolattez!

      Delete
  2. Paula MartinApril 19, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    Interesting that you had photos of her in your classrooms, Cathy - because here in the UK we didn't! I've actually seen her (in person) about 4 times, twice from a distance, and twice close up. Actually sat about 8 rows behind her in St Paul's Cathedral for the Millennium Service in 2000 and I was within inches of her when she walked back up he aisle at the end of the service.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 19, 2013 at 2:27 PM

      That's funny you didn't have photos in your classroom, Paula. Also here in Canada, we celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday in May and you don't.

      I'm a real royal watcher. Lucky you getting to see the queen all those times. I missed seeing her when she was in Ottawa last year for her Jubilee tour.

      Delete
  3. Grace Grits and GardeningApril 19, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    cute poem:))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 20, 2013 at 4:49 AM

      Thanks, Talya! I was trying to go for something more meaningful but was running out of time so my silly side came out.

      Delete
  4. SuzyApril 19, 2013 at 6:41 PM

    Awesome, this made me smile. How interesting that each classroom had a photo of the Queen. Here in NZ we celebrate her birthday on the first Monday in June.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 20, 2013 at 4:52 AM

      You celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday in NZ, Suzy? That's interesting. We celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday which they don't in the UK. Now it's become an excuse for a long weekend in May more than anything. All these small connections the Commonwealth countries have to the UK, I guess.

      Delete
  5. Catch My WordsApril 19, 2013 at 8:19 PM

    Interesting perspective. I barely noticed the US presidents on our walls.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 20, 2013 at 4:54 AM

      I still remember it well, Joyce. Interesting the differences. We never had our prime minster's photo on the wall. The queen was boss!

      Delete
  6. Corinne RodriguesApril 20, 2013 at 5:54 AM

    I'm surprised to hear that you had the Queen's photograph in classrooms! It's specially funny that Paula says they didn't have the pictures in the UK!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 20, 2013 at 6:02 AM

      I guess they were trying to keep our ties to the UK strong as a Commonwealth country, Corinne. It was still quite strong in the 1960s. Maybe not quite as much now as they don't have the queen's pic and they don't sing God Save the Queen every morning. We're more multicultural now and that has had an impact.

      We still celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday which they don't either. Now it's more an excuse for a long weekend. I imagine other Commonwealth countries have traditions connected to the UK, too.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#MicroblogMonday - Small Actions Do Make a Difference

Image
My family has a band made up of me on flute, my husband on bass clarinet, one son on tenor sax and the other on drums. We play music at the Presbyterian church we attend every third Sunday.  Our church congregation are a traditional, conservative bunch, not known for displaying too much emotion and often I assume that no one cares much if we play or not. Yesterday I was at a funeral for one of the members. A woman came up to me and told me how much she loves to see my sons perform and how the music just pours out of us. She always looks forward to the Sundays when we are performing and how much our music means to her. Her appreciation for our music reminded me that even small actions can have a big impact. It also reminded me that if someone does make a difference, it’s important to thank them and show your appreciation. Never assume that people know already as often they’re like me and don’t think that these small actions are a big deal. Never underestim...
Read more

#MondayMusings Acceptance of Loss and Change

Image
This cartoon certainly touched a nerve this morning and triggered an outpouring of emotion that has evolved into this blog post. I sure miss my mom’s phone calls. That was our way of staying connected across the vast thousand mile distance between Ontario and Cape Breton.  My mom just loved to talk on the phone with friends and family, especially during the last few years of her life when she wasn’t as active anymore. She would come out to the sunroom, sit in her favourite chair (sometimes with an orange cat in her lap) and phone people. She used to put on the speaker phone which I never liked, but she found it easier and my dad could listen in, too. I used to tell her I wasn't a phone person and that I preferred email and Facebook are since I express myself best in writing.  What I wouldn't do for one of my mom’s phone calls now. Miss her every day. I'm adapting and going on, as one must do after losing a loved one, but life is defini...
Read more