Thursday, April 3, 2014

Message in a Bottle

Today Pope Francis
and Queen Elizabeth II
met in Rome.

This is old hat to her
and we all know
she's got so very many

(and she can wear
any hat any time

anywhere she pleases
thank you very much).

She's visited with
four other popes
over her career

(one such visit
was during her "internship").

The Queen kept things
far more chill
than in years past.

She doesn't know Italian
and he doesn't know
Her Majesty's English

but he gave her
a scroll from 1679
inscribed with the message
"Urbi et Orbi"

meaning "To the City
and the World"

and a little something
for baby George.

She gave him a collection
of "jams and drinks"

including a bottle of whiskey
from Balmoral Castle
in Aberdeenshire Scotland.

Sources cannot confirm
whether or not the Queen

mouthed and made
the sign for "call me"
as the two parted ways.

This poem © 2014 Emily Cooper.