The clock struck midnight

She gave up the fight

And slowly, finally, she died

The people around her all cried

“What now can we do?”

Asked a voice small as dew

And slowly, mournfully they shrugged

They had thought her will would be enough

Who would have thought?

After how hard she fought,

It would all end for naught?

She died.

“Must we go on with our lives like before?”

Asked another standing by the door

And slowly, determinedly, they said “no,

We will remember her wherever we go.”

They gazed at her form

Their hearts were torn

But slowly, tearfully, they left

Leaving her alone in rest

Who would have thought?

After how hard she fought,

It would all end for naught?

She died.

“We must announce to the people she’s gone.”

The king said to her son

And slowly, strongly, he nodded

The only way he could have responded

The bell rang twenty-six times

Each toll a year of her life

And slowly, sadly, all knew

Of the queen’s death, the painful truth

Who would have thought?

After how hard she fought,

It would all end for naught?

She died.

The next day too soon came

Along with it was pouring rain

But slowly, wetly, a crowd arrived

They came to pay tribute to the queen who had died

The king spoke the words to the crowd

His voice was not even proud

And slowly, joylessly, they sang

For all she had done, their voices rang

Who would have thought?

After how hard she fought,

It would all end for naught?

She died.

The prince said a word or two

Knowing it was what he had to do

He slowly, barely, held on

Somehow, he could stay strong

Not an eye was dry

In city or countryside

But, slowly, haltingly, grief was healed

It took many, many, years

Who would have thought?

After how hard she fought,

It would all end for naught?

She died.

The queen’s goodness was not forgotten

Somehow it still touched the rotten

and slowly, surely, she was reflected
In every citizen was her goodness detected

People became more generous, kinder
They loved all in her honor
Then slowly, beautifully, they loved for love's sake
The queen's legacy greatness made

Here to end is a final thought
Did her death really end in naught?
Can you see any change it got?
Even though after how hard she fought,
She died