Eleanor Cross
By marandina
- 1397 reads
Eleanor, highborn of Castile,
favoured daughter of Ferdinand,
beloved, revered Queen to
Albion’s powerhouse: The Longshanks.
Noble monarch, woman of means,
passionate patron of literature,
well educated, fiercely independent,
cultural icon of her time.
Magnificent matriarch to sixteen
children from regal union.
Passed away into lore,
three wedded decades and more.
Of Sussex marble, Purbeck pure,
chiselled carvings etched in lime.
Pray for her eternal soul,
dear weary travellers in time.
Eleanor Cross, monuments twelve,
aligning her funeral path.
Cortege passage: Lincoln to Charing,
stone markers her journey sharing.
For two centuries and beyond,
Edwards’s candles remained aflame,
at Royal Westminster Abbey,
blessed vigil to her name.
Footnotes:
The Eleanor Cross (image is my own) is half a mile from where I live in Northampton and is a source of local pride. It was at the centre of a recent ownership dispute between the County and Borough councils, neither wanting to foot the bill for much needed restoration costs. The Borough council eventually conceded and the work has been done at a cost of £95,000 to preserve this historical artefact that dates back to 1291. It is one of only three of the original twelve crosses that remain today.
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Comments
I was interested to read your
I was interested to read your poem. It's good to know they're keeping the cross restored and your poem keeps the memory alive.
Fascinating read.
Jenny.
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Really interesting. I know
Really interesting. I know there are many demands on local authorities' funding, but the preservation of something like this should never be in question. Lovely picture, too.
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A very interesting piece -
A very interesting piece - thank you. I think the connection has been disproved now, but I always think of the Elephant and Castle when I read about Eleanor of Castile
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Interesting Read
Enjoyed reading your poem, reminded me of when I lived in Waltham Cross the site of another memorial to Queen Eleanor. I believe the crosses were erected to mark the over night stays on nher final journey into London, though I maybe wrong. Will probably spend sometime researching a little of her life now. Thanks very much.
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