WITHIN the ancient Abbey now are gathered
From all the world the high estates of men
To see the Coronation of the King.
Full sixty years and more have run their course
Since this old roof looked down on such a scene ;
Yet some who stoop for age recall the day
When England’s youthful Queen received the Crown
She kept unsullied for her people’s good ;
To-day her son, restored to precious life
By Him who gives the surgeon’s hand its skill,
Receives the crown the good Victoria wore.
Here is seen a mighty Empire,
Here are gathered Church and State,
Men of action, thought, and learning,
Representing small and great.
England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland,
Joined in strength, are here as one ;
Here are daughters of the Empire
On which never sets the sun.
India’s councillors and princes,
Afric’s statesmen, here have place ;
Canada has sent her great men,
Australasia adds her grace.
And the neighbour Old World peoples
Come to greet Old England’s King ;
While our Transatlantic kinsmen
Gratitude and goodwill bring.
Now hushed is all the vast and brilliant throng –
Hushed, for he comes, His Majesty the King ;
Comes to the Abbey consecrate to God,
Within its walls, that tell of England’s course,
To swear, ‘fore God, Truth and Fidelity ;
And with him Alexandra, peerless Queen,
For grace and tenderness beloved of all.
Lo, at the Western doors they come, the while
The song of praise, fragrant, ascends to Heaven.
Now the Archbishop, in the words prescribed,
Speaks to the King, who makes reply, and kneels,
Then placing on the Book his hands, declares,
” The things which I now here have promised
I will perform and keep, so help me God.”
And the Archbishop prays the Lord that with
” All princely virtues He will crown the King ” ;
Then reverently upon th’ anointed head
Places the crown, and gives the crowned King
The priceless Book wherein wisdom is found
And Royal Law, wherein are Oracles
Divine. Another prelate now anoints
And crowns the Queen. And suddenly the loud
Acclaim rises and peals and echoes through
The Abbey, ” God save the King, God bless our Queen ” ;
And all the peers and peeresses put on
Their coronets, the Bishops don their caps,
The trumpets blare, drums sound, and guns are heard,
Until the glad Te Deum by all the host
Is chanted as their song of thankfulness.
And now before the crowned King the peers
In homage bow and kiss the Royal hand,
And through the Abbey loyal shouts resound.
Now the King kneels, – the Chamberlain the while
Holding the Royal Crown, – kneels and receives
The Sacramental Food of Bread and Wine ;
Then reassumes his crown and sits enthroned.
And people of the Empire see in this
Great scene, the Crown as symbol of the tie
Which holds them all in one in ordered power ;
And all the world beholds acknowledgment
Of Him who honours them who honour Him,
By whom alone kings reign and princes rule.
(Gerard Addington D Arcy Irvine)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, God Poems, World Poems, Mind Poems, Heaven Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Sons Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Truth Poems, Education PoemsBased on Keywords: coronets, representing, transatlantic, archbishop, chamberlain, councillors, anoints, acknowledgment, australasia, alexandra, reassumes