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by Roshan Doug
11th April 2001
I had a busy day ahead of me so it was an early start, a taxi into New Street Station to catch the 7.45 to Euston. In the style I had set for the day, I breakfasted on the train, the impressively mounted poem occupying the seat next to me. I had written a poem about my thoughts on language from a royal perspective - realising The Queen had a milestone birthday imminent, I amended it to make it appropriate to commemorate the birthday. We contacted the palace and they said they would be pleased to receive it, and would I like to deliver it in person? So today is the day!
I can truly say that this was one of my prouder moments. I was pleased with this poem - I wanted to write about 'the Queen's English' and my version of the English language, age 7,
... your English consonants clashing
With my foreign vowels ...,
based on and around the historic 1969 TV programme about the Royal Family, but I didn't want it to be 'cheesy'. I await others views!
But whatever it's merits, the poem was presented in a way which looked pleasing, I would go as far as to say, beautiful, and this was a new phenomena for me; dealing with not only sounds, meanings, feelings, but also aesthetics. Those who have no affiliation with poetry could appreciate the visual effect of this work. Although I had an input into it's appearance the finished product was down to others, my press office, the printers, the framer - my thanks to you all.
Outside the Palace there were crowds. I reported to security who got me clearance and I walked across the foreground into the front entrance into the palace. I was shown into a very regal and opulent room and here met HRH's Chief Clerk who explained that The Queen was at Windsor and would like to accept the gift on her behalf. She seemed impressed with my offering, and so she should be, this was an official gift from the City of Birmingham, and it's people, no expense spared!
After the presentation I walked the length of the Mall. It was a sunny spring morning and I wanted to clear my head of what had happened so far that morning, and in fact, in my humble year in the 'honorary' position of Poet Laureate to the City of Birmingham. I had been to London to visit the Queen, so to speak! In Trafalgar Square, having time to kill, I went into the National Gallery and spent time viewing one of my 'favourite' works of art, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche. Gruesome, but I am fascinated by the interactions, the situation and facial expressions, so much so that I was inspired to write a poem (which is included in my second collection, The English-knowing Men). I found myself discussing it at depth with some Dutch students and, no, I didn't tell them it I had written a poem entitled the On Viewing 'Execution of Lade Jane Grey' etc, etc.
I had a business lunch planned with a journalist who wanted to hear about my experience at Buckingham Place and publish the Queen's poem in the Asian press. Here I was introduced to some dignitaries visiting from India who were dining in the restaurant, and so the networking continues ...
After this extravagant lunch it was a dash on the underground to record some programmes for the BBC's Radio 4 Pause for Thought. Not the best time to record, I found, after a hectic, exciting day. Perhaps I should have had a double scotch to calm me down, I had, in fact, refused alcohol with lunch to ensure my performance was crisp - big mistake!
Finally another dash to deliver a copy of the poem to a journalist for publication the next day and a relaxing and reflective journey home. A momentous day. I hope The Queen enjoyed reading her poem!
You may read the poem, entitled The notes of the Rani, on this website.
Page created 9 February 2001 and last updated 28 October 2002
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