Read Poetry from A Royal Day...
The £100 Winner of the A Royal Day Competition…
A poem about the royal wedding has brought literary success for first time poetry competition entrant Jacqueline Ginns. She was chosen as winner of the free nationwide competition run by publishers United Press.
“Jaqueline’s poem on the theme A Royal Day was chosen as winner from over 2,000 entries we received from all over the UK,” explained Peter Quinn of United Press. “It’s a poem which reflects the subject in a very thoughtful and creative way.”
Jacqueline wins £100 and publication of her poem, He Knew, in a forthcoming poetry anthology, plus a free copy of the book.
“It was a huge shock to win the competition. I saw an advert in my local paper and when I looked online, the deadline was looming. I thought I hadn’t enough time to write something suitable, but I must have been subconciously thinking about it, as the poem just seemed to come to me with ease. I entered in the nick of time!”
“I started writing when my dad died,” said Jacqueline. “After that my mum would always ask me if I had any poetry for her, and I would jot something down. It was only then I started to think about it properly and I started taking timeto write.”
Jacqueline is married to David and they have three children, Kelly, Jemma and Ross.
You can read Jacqueline's winning poem below:
HE KNEW
She could not see her sons
As they stepped out the car,
Resplendant in their uniforms,
So handsome, so smart.
She could not hear the gasps
As the bride arranged her dress,
A proud father accompanying,
Her nervous beating breast.
She could not feel their love
When the groom glimpsed his bride,
Eyes only for each other
As she walked down the aisle.
She could not share their joy
As the wedding bells rang out,
When they set off in their carriage
To proceed along the mall.
He could sense her presence
When he turned to kiss his bride,
In his heart, he knew,
She’d been there all the while.
Jacqueline Ginns, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Below you can read excerpts of other work from poets published in A Royal Day.
ROYAL WEDDING
The red carpeted aisle,
with little bridesmaids to follow.
All waiting patiently,
while vows are taken.
The cutting of the cake, filled with more than sweetness.
Confetti rains down
like tears of happiness.
With gold chariots
that carry them off
into a fairy tale dream
of hopes and wishes for the future.
No tension in the air.
Just tranquillity.
The cream white layers
of the bride’s flowing dress
She’s now the Duchess of Cambridge.
To Prince William married.
And a viewer of the Royal Family jokes,
Well next time round I’ll marry
Prince Harry.
Rachel Van Den Bergen
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BE HAPPY
Be happy dear Kate and William
One day our future King and Queen
For on the 29th of April 2011
You delighted millions with the answer to their dreams
For we loved you both - long before you wed
We thought you made the perfect pair
And a marriage was blessed in heaven
As Princess Diana - William’s beloved mother
Smiled contentedly from there
We wish you many years of happiness together
May you be blessed with a precious family too
For we love and adore.
Our marvellous Queen Elizabeth
And her husband Prince Philip too
So let us salute all members
Of a very special Royal Family
And all members of Kate’s family too
For they have all captured our hearts
And our love - it is true.
Joan Kernick
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BIG DAY (29.04.2011)
For this day of days we have waited for a while.
Here comes the bride
With a bouquet of spring flowers ivory and white.
What a gorgeous sight! In a lace gown like
A princess she charms us. When she walks up the aisle
We are bound to have a memorable time.
Of this magic moment we have dreamt for a while.
Here comes the groom with radiant Kate on his arm.
Like man and wife, they are walking down the aisle,
To the sound of music that enchants all hearts.
There are all the smiles.
The joyful crowd sends the golden couple wishes
For a happy married life.
Soon the Prince and his Cinderella bride
Will climb into a gold carriage to set out
For the journey of their lives and their dreams to realise.
There are cheers and delight! Do not we love this fairy-tale
Unfolding before our eyes? There are all the smiles.
Have not we waited for this royal wedding for a while?
Lucy Carrington
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A PERFECTLY SUBLIME DAY
Anticipation, excitement, joy and happiness
Gather the nation on this wondrous day.
Simplicity, tradition, pageantry, humanity on song.
Playful moments lovingly lingering.
Glorious music resounding like threads of gold.
Intimate joy beautifully expressed.
Unforgettable words of the Bishop of London wisely and gently spoken.
Preposterous fashion and pure elegance.
Prince Harry sparkling, naughty and dutiful.
Prince William patiently awaiting his beautiful poised bride,
A vision of elegance and love,
While her sister triumphed too.
The Mall, a sea of goodwill and love,
Miraculously led by the police slowly moving closer to
Buckingham Palace for that moment long awaited.
Bliss, sealed with a kiss,
And an encore.
The personal fly-past completing the splendour
And overwhelming happiness shared.
The Abbey Verger was not the only one dancing
And turning a cartwheel.
A truly memorable day to cherish always.
Margaret Ann Wheatley
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CROWNS
Can you remember how we first met? With just our eyes and no net.
Eyes are windows to our souls we knew that day, we wouldn’t be alone.
Our love has lay dormant far too long there is no danger point. We belong.
You are the one, the one for me you took my love and set me free.
For you were sent from up above, straight to me with a special love.
We have love, we have hope, on these foundations we will cope
You picked me up when I was down, you knew I was special you saw the crown.
You saw the love that was in me, yes my darling I am your key
So this Queen has found her hive, and a General by her side.
Now these bees will buzz around, with love from town to town.
For this honey is not man-made, came from heaven before the grave.
Lorraine Chantell Williams
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A NEW CHAPTER
The old aged wall sigh as lives begin,
and true love is sculptured in ancient stone.
Free birds in flight while children sing;
a couple’s words spoken as if alone.
Where songs were sung within avenue trees
and rejoice in England’s green and pleasant land.
With strength from hornbeams and dove white lilies,
our nations unites; strangers hand-in-hand.
Watched by so many one moment in time,
hope is reborn on this fine April day.
When all sadness forgotten and hope entwined,
awash all your fears let no enemy sway.
Whilst history is written before our eyes,
the clouds disperse into clearer skies.
Nicollette Foreman
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