They took her to the doleful traitor’s gate,
Where none could save her life or bring release,
Along the river to a heavy fate,
No harp or dulcimer to give her peace.
The world had turned away, the Tudor rose
In ruins at her feet, the fickle king,
Inconstant, needing sons, the river flows
With royal blood where sorrow’s angels sing.
“To Jesus I commend my soul,” she cried,
She wore damask, her mantle was ermine,
Poor Cramer heard the cannon as she died,
He fell and wept, forgave her every sin.
The strings were broken on the violin,
That sang no more for laughing Anne Boleyn.
Author notes
This poem was inspired by the many films and books I have seen and read about the Tudors. You may be interested to know that Anne Boleyn did in fact write a poem which can be found on Old Poetry.
A contest entry
- The Tudors, Boleyns, and More by Carpe Noctem.
300 points, ended April 15, 2008, 5 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Henry VIII. by mystic-angel.
900 points, ended August 4, 6 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 27 of 27
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Excellent. Nice to see a well-written sonnet in this contest. I enjoyed this very much. Boleyn is my favorite of Henry's wives.
Should be: Cranmer -
Absolutely wonderful, beautiful words, great flow and great imagery! Thanks for your entry and good luck! x
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wow this is a really neat write. I really loved it! loved it! This was wonderfully written. And it was a pleasure to read.
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A well crafted sonnet about and intriguing time and individual. Love the rhyme of Boleyn with mandolin - very fresh and new. Buff
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I do so love your poetry. and this Ann Boleyn would be top of my list anywhere, so beautifully wrought into a sonnett(I am especially into English history,)
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Beautiful.
I love the use of rhyme and words as if it were written at that time.
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Loved it
The poem conveyed the emotion of this instance very well, and it paints a very vivid image of Anne Boleyn's fate. Beautifully written.
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Good
The Tower with its tales of innumerable executions and secret murders has a peculiar fascination. Among these tales that of Anne Boleyn is one of the very, if not the most, gruesome and grisly. She desired that she should be beheaded not with an axe but with a sword. This poem aptly commemorates her in admiringly rhyming verse.
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A joy to read your exceptional work
You preserve her memory at the highest level of language: yours.
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Stunning piece - I was actually at the Tower of London yesterday - so vi and rich in it's history. To stand where Anne Boleyn fell was truly amazing. SO this is a timely piece for me. Well done indeed - I love it.
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I didn't know that she wrote a poem. But I've read a great deal about her. In fact I've read about all of King Henry VIII's wives. They are all so fasinating in their own unique way. This is a great write on Anne Boleyn. I really enjoyed it.
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beautiful theme and sonnet form. I loved the book and haven't yet seen the film- but I think your poem is a true tribute to this often misunderstoon woman of our history. Very strong imagery and an impeccable rhyme and flow. A solid work of art. Cheers
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Fabulous
A great poem. I love the era of the Tudors and this poem sums up the death of Anne Boleyn perfectly! Good luck on the competition.
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This is a lovely sonnet. I like the way you constantly bring in the river. You kept the rhythm very well, which is not always easy, but you didn't make it sound forced. My favourite lines were the last two, because it describes what we know of Anne Boleyn very well.
This is definitely well done!
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Elegant
You sing a dirge and help us imagine the sorrow, without help from the stringed instruments. You summarize her life from the rich robes to the river's edge and beyond. Well Written!
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Wow, this is a lovely poem! I truly enjoyed reading every beautiful word. Beautiful work!
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They seem to make more films of this tragic woman than any other in Henry VIII's life, you have given us her again with the written word, so very well done. Love, C
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Oh, my goodness. This is truly a piece of beauty. I am, I admit, a very big fan of history and in particular that time period, but the poem alone had me captivated from start to finish. It flowed like a river, if you'll excuse the pun, and the choice of language just made it work so beautifully and interestingly. "The strings were broken on the mandolin,
That sang no more for laughing Anne Boleyn." Wonderful.
Keep up the great work
God bless,
ELW x
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Nicely penned. An intelligent and well constructed poem. Best of luck in the contest.
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WONDERFUL!
A beautiful little story on her, a short sweet write and a gentle read.
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Very Nice
I love poems that catch a small window into history. Very lovely, Bob
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I noticed that you are somehow "addicted" to your country past and tudor's time. You must be proud with your poetry and dedication to all of them. NIce.
~Sonja~
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Wowee.
The name IS familiar...perhaps not from the same source. Your writing is so elegant and phrased with precision. I agree with belle- this easily could have fooled me into thinking it was written a LONG and more creative-writing-time ago.
But yours is in the present. NICE!
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Wow
This is excellent and I absolutely love the rhyme of 'mandolin' with 'Anne Boleyn' Muchos applause
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You did this dignitary proud! This reads like a epic sonnet, almost like a dirge. Beautifully done, Shakespearean style. ♥ Belle
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I think a lot of women met this fate very good poem
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a good poem - first time i have read any poetry on her.
spill ink and twist me into the crazy shape of love...
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