4. queen here

didn't get here yesterday

arrived today noon-thirty

in pretty violet hat and dress;

for in rome it's springtime.

met president napolitano first,

then to vatican to see pope francis

after lunch.

flies out this afternoon.

bunching activities into her day

i always say, and that's the way

good queens travel.

we waited to see her

at chiesa nuova and catch some sun.

bill was there, and rosemary too

who hasn't seen her since her  coronation.

nothing happened, all was glum

then suddenly sirens filled the air,

motorcycles sped, here they come.

the entourage appeared right here.

moving stately, rolling by,

the dark, flagged limo with the queen;

we saw her looking out at us, and we waved;

she waved at us as she went on.

it was quick and we were ready,

proud to be there and prepared

to see the queen, we surely did.

all went well, and it was good.

in and out in 4 hours.
meets  the president and the pope
home for dinner
that's how to visit rome

3. queens's eve

in rome on the morrow

sans popcorn and streamers

will pass her motorcade.

hurrah,  the sun will shine

reflecting on events . . .

the girl crowned june '53

on the black and white round screen

of our first TV,  

i  was eight.

texas bill, eleven

ambled prairie grass

to view at a neighbor's;

his uncle said remember.

parliament square, london,

felicitous rosemary, 15

in new dress and first stockings

with mother and tickets

sat covered,  

protected from light rain

as the select paraded

into westminster abbey

and bill said,

last time in rome 2000

her hairdresser used an english dryer

and blew out the electricity

in the quirinale, the president's palace

didn't lose it everyday, all searched

for the circuit box, hidden

behind a portrait, there are many

no one could remember which one

2. queen again

march 5, 1983 queen waved at me

in san francisco i was on the corner

at union square happening by

with about 7,200 other people

and so was she

maybe that's why she

did that queen wave thing

you know the one

it's the rage

so this week

31 years and a week later

her vision and mine have gone downhill

but i'll be around

when she drives by

and see if she remembers me

i'll know her, she'll be the one

in the white box hat

1. queen comes to town

mark it down

queen comes to town

on thursday;

we'll see her go by.

circling helicopters and

legions of motorcycling police

will be a reminder; 

and,  no need for we,

the head count,  to put on our dancing shoes

or dress for the occasion.