Winter-Kissed Crown

The wind, a dirge across the wintry Isle,
Whispered through bare boughs, mourning in its smile.
Victoria, a name etched on an era's brow,
Had yielded to the silence, cold as snow.

February dawned, a shroud of mourning gray,
On Windsor's ramparts, where a queen once held sway.
From distant realms, where crowns with diamonds gleamed,
A tide of royalty in sorrow streamed.

Emperors and kings, wardens of valor of might,
Marched shoulder-to-shoulder in the fading light.
Kaiser Wilhelm, stern and proud of face,
Beside his kin, found solace in this space.

The Union Jack, a flag of empire wide,
Muffled its drums, with somberness its guide.
Soldiers in scarlet, guardians of the land,
Escorted her, the monarch, hand in hand.

No public mourning, the Queen had so decreed,
Her final journey, private, as her heart had bleed.
Yet, millions gathered, hearts as one they beat,
To bid farewell, upon the London street.

A gun carriage rumbled, drawn by sailors bold,
Her casket draped in purple, rich and cold.
White lilies graced the bier, a symbol pure,
Of endless love, a love that would endure.

In St. George's Chapel, hallowed and serene,
Where whispers danced with memories unseen,
They laid her down, the empress of an age,
Her reign etched deep upon history's page.

As twilight fell, and candles flickered low,
A final hymn, a teardrop's gentle flow.
The crown, once vibrant, kissed by winter's chill,
Now lay beside her, silent and still.

But though the reign had ended, and the throne stood bare,
Her legacy, a beacon, bright and rare.
Victoria's spirit, in the land she'd known,
Would echo through the ages, never overthrown.

So let the wind sing lullabies of grace,
And whisper tales of a monarch's resting place.
For in the quiet hush, where history unfolds,
Queen Victoria's legend, forever holds.

Points of Information: ▼

Kaiser Wilhelm - Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 until his abdication in 1918, which marked the end of the German Empire and the House of Hohenzollern's 300-year reign in Prussia and 500-year reign in Brandenburg. (Wikipedia)

Kaiser - Throughout history, emperors in German-speaking countries have been known as Kaisers. The earliest Kaisers ruled during the Holy Roman Empire. Kaiser comes from the Old High German keisar, "emperor," and its Latin source, Caesar.

Windsor - Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. (Wikipedia)

The Union Jack - or Union Flag, is the de facto national flag of the United Kingdom. Although no law has been passed making the Union Flag the official national flag of the United Kingdom, it has effectively become such through precedent. (Wikipedia)

St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in England is a castle chapel built in the late-medieval Perpendicular Gothic style. It is a Royal Peculiar, and the Chapel of the Order of the Garter. St George's Chapel was founded in the 14th century by King Edward III and extensively enlarged in the late 15th century. Wikipedia)

LINE COUNT: 40 Lines
WRITTEN FOR: "The Writer's Cramp"  | "Winner & New Prompt Due Wednesday, January 24"  
PROMPT:
On February 2 (2/2) in 1901, the state funeral of Queen Victoria of Great Britain took place and was one of the largest gatherings of European royalty in history. Write a poem or story about this event. Use HISTORY as one of your genres.