Accession Of Victoria Poem by Charlotte Peters Rock

A queen
I didn't quite expect to be a queen
What does it mean

A queen can be alone
not fettered by her mother's will
- nor by Lehzen - nor by Conroy

Apartments of my own
to walk and sleep in
Conyngham has woke me
and in early morning
in my dressing gown
has told me I am Queen

Alone
in summertime to meet them both
Canterbury came as well
to call me Queen

Outside I still see trees
hear the blackbird's high melodic note
the twittering of sparrows
My uncle died last night
and I am Queen

Conroy Lehzen nor Mama
are not above me now

Last August on the Queen's birthday
Mama and I left early from the celebration
when my uncle said he'd live to see me Queen
no Regency between us two
I cried

Mama and Conroy
prayed him dead for such an insult
refused to let me take a Privy Purse
Ten thousand pounds a year my uncle offered
and my choice of ladies-in-waiting
They made me write to turn him down

It's such a giddy thought
To be a Queen No - not a Queen
The Queen of England and Her Realms

I must write condolences
to Adelaide
the Dowager Queen

29Feb1996 CPR