Canaletto Revisited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

1,000 boats, several orchestras and chamber music, Royal barges the like of which hadn’t been seen for 200 years...

The seven mile long Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant that took place yesterday (June 3, 2012) was inspired by Canaletto’s paintings of the arrival of Catherine of Braganza to marry Charles II in 1662, when 1,000 boats took to the river to welcome here. (See below)

While no poem can do the occasion justice, but I wanted to record the event in a villanelle to include in what will probably be my final collection in 2015 when I will be 70.

CANALETTO REVISITED

On a river that flows through a city,

hear bells ring out nationwide;

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

All is colour, cheers and pageantry

even politics briefly put aside

on a river that flows through a city

Sure respite from global austerity,

transcending multicultural divide;

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

Echoes of a land of Hope and Glory

taking war and peace in its stride

on a river that flows through a city

Regard and affection for monarchy,

in Commonwealth taking pride;

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

A godly queen, woman extraordinary,

true rock of a man at her side...

On a river that flows through a city,

celebrations for a Diamond Jubilee

Copyright R. N. Taber 2012