Swr For The Love Of Sir Walter Raleigh Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

Elizabeth intelligent forthright
courageous won passionate;
risk love of Sir Walter Raleigh
eleven years her senior at least?

Elizabeth fell in love soon pregnant
spicy summer love won two heart’s;
without permission a marriage secret
birth to love baby boy Damerei born.

Elizabeth immediately returned
to royal court child named;
for claimed Sir Walter's ancestors
child of cursed plague died;

aged but babe six months
marriage ruin discovered;
in May 1592 ruinously was
reaped rage consequences.

Queen required her royal ladies
-in-waiting to get her permission;
to marry had Raleigh arrested
immediately jailed imprisoned;

in infamous Tower of London
Elizabeth expelled from court;
was also in tower imprisoned
Elizabeth obtained disfavoured;

quarters near her husband
at Tower where their child;
probably cell plagued died
to broken hearted distress.

Queen love couple expected
to sue for her royal pardon;
but both grief mourn refused
Raleigh disgrace fell five years.

Twas prize Spanish gold allowed
Raleigh bold release from prison;
to divide spoils from won captured
Spanish ship taken Madre de Dios.

During Raleigh's later absences
in search of El Dorado legends;
gold subsequent imprisonments
Elizabeth managed his business.

But Raleigh's rapid rise star had
turn fickle star courses now to run;
King James reinstates Raleigh's
death sentence Raleigh beheaded;

in destiny Old Palace Yard
at Palace of Westminster;
in 1618 Year of our Lord
on the 29th day of October.

Raleigh to see the axe allowed
that would behead him mused;
'This is a sharp Medicine,
but it is Physician

for all diseases and miseries.'
'Let us dispatch' Raleigh said
to his axe ready executioner.
'At this hour my ague comes

upon me. I would
not have my enemies
think I quaked from fear.'
'Strike, man, strike! '

Sir Walter's final words
as he lay ready for his axe;
before severed blood did flow
gory trophy held up for show.

Elizabeth had her husband's
head embalmed carried it;
around with her for the rest
of her life did faithful Bess.

Elizabeth did after Raleigh's
1618 execution life worked;
to re-establish his reputation.
Carew Raleigh's son inherited;

his father’s head when he died
the head was with him buried.
But tell me true you who knew
to his corpse what happened?

Raleigh's body was finally laid
to rest in his Westminster tomb:
Elizabeth did write 'The Lords'
'have given me his dead body,

though they have denied me his life.
God hold me in my wits.' 29 years
later Raleigh's head was to his tomb
dispatched in St. Margaret's interred.