The Book the Queen narrowly missed to read

Nov 17, 2022

“Fare Thee Well,” poem 70, was written on February 17, 2019.

The Book the Queen narrowly missed to read

Simon Peter Esaku
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What started as a happy, exciting tour of four countries of the British Empire ended abruptly in sadness for the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on February 6, 1952. 

While visiting a national park in Kenya, with her husband Prince Philip, she received news of the death of her father, King George VI. 

The Princess who had arrived from Australia and New Zealand and was due to visit Uganda, cut short her trip and flew back home via Entebbe in Uganda, for the funeral of her father and to be crowned Queen. 

The image of Princess Elizabeth huddled up in a small plane from Kenya to Entebbe and on to London in a royal plane her heart sorrow-leaden, touched my heart. It was a trying and sad time for her, one that reminds me that life rotates in cycles; that the bad alternates with the good and that we are mortal.  

While I identified with Princess Elizabeth’s situation, I admired Queen Elizabeth II for her strength, gentility, kindness, wisdom, love for God and dedication to duty and service as the Queen of Great Britain, Head of the Commonwealth, Head of the Church of England and patron of hundreds of charities. 

I began to like her read a lot about her and appreciate her contribution. I first saw her when I attended Trooping the Colour (ceremony marking a monarch’s official birthday) in London, in June 1993.

In 2018, I got the inspiration to write a third poetry book with Christian poems and poems about Queen Elizabeth II and the Commonwealth. I called it, “Royal Rhymes: Poems about Two Kingdoms,” that’s, the Kingdom of Heaven and the Commonwealth.

My first poetry book- “Lonely Thoughts: Poems about Life,” was published by AuthorHouse UK in 2011 and is available on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Thoughts-Poems-About-Life/dp1456798545). 

The second, “Reflections: Poems Inspired from Above,” written July 2016 – July 2017, is a manuscript.  

I wrote the first poem of Royal Rhymes- “Bless the Lord, Your Majesty” on August 7, 2018. But the first poem in the book is “Introduction,” in which I tell the Queen the purpose of the book.

It’s to appreciate her for her contribution (6 poems); and share with her, from the Commonwealth: fun (13 poems); cultures and politics (17 poems); and history and news (3 poems). Also to share with her things from the Kingdom of God and to glorify God (32 poems). 

Finally, to share the poems with all beyond Christendom. I said while I glorify God, I dedicate the book, “my true and humble gift” to her. 

Originally, Royal Rhymes consisted of 70 poems, the last one, “Canada the Land of Many Cultures” written on August 10, 2020. 

Thus I wrote the book in two years. The poems do not appear according to the date of writing but themes.   

The last seven poems- “Lean on the Lord,” “Draw Nigh to Thy King,” “There Is a Home Yonder,” “When I cross the Border,” “I’ll Praise the Lord Forever,” “I am Coming Home,” and “Fare Thee Well,” were meant to encourage Her Majesty and readers and to give the book a suitable ending.

“Fare Thee Well,” poem 70, was written on February 17, 2019. It says in this world we toil and feast; go through hard and easy times; rejoice and grieve but everything ends then we go to “our paternity,” to a place without suffering but only God knows the hour and day. 

The book ended thus: 

“If He invites me before thee, fare thee well, you tell,

If thou get’st the card before me, then fare thee well.”

In September 2020, I gave the manuscript to experts to review with literary and spiritual eyes- Prof. Timothy Wangusa who taught me poetry at Makerere University; Bishop Simon Peter Emiau- Leader of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God- Uganda; Robby Muhumuza formerly my mentor at World Vision Uganda; and Julius Mucunguzi an author. “It’s fine and sweet.” Bishop Emiau commented. 

I thought Her Majesty would read the book but I soon realised that time was running out for her condition was deteriorating fast. 

I accelerated the search for a traditional publisher in UK and prayed for her daily.   

On June 27, 2019 almost a year after I completed writing Royal Rhymes, I got inspiration for a new worship song I called, “Eternally Grateful.” 

I sung and recorded only the second part. On Sep. 8, 2021, some 42 days later, I finally got inspiration for the tune and lyrics of Part I and the song became complete. 

On that day, I also adapted the song into a poem and added it as the last poem in the 122-page manuscript. It fitted so well, because whereas “Fare Thee Well” is a sad poem about parting on earth, “Eternally Grateful” is a happiness, post-death poem of hope and a new beginning in heaven.  

Part I has 4 stanzas of 4 lines each and give the reasons for being eternally grateful. 

When I stand up one day, 

Ages and ages hence, 

And behold the celestial dawn 

Over the horizon yonder

 

I’ll kneel down and lift up my hands, 

And worship you and thank You 

Because my salvation has come

And your Kingdom is revealed.

 

When I leave death behind, 

And my burdens and pleasures 

And enter the gates of your city

 And take my seat before You

 

I’ll thank You forever, 

I’ll worship and praise You Lord 

For bringing me a long long way

And for the glorious victory.   

      

Part II has 5 stanzas. To save space, I will write them like prose with commas separating lines. 

The fifth stanza says: “I’ll be grateful forevermore, Forevermore, I’ll be grateful eternally, Eternally. The other four stanzas begin “And I’ll worship you my Lord forevermore ...,” “And I’ll praise you my Lord forevermore ...,” “I will thank you forevermore ...,” “I’ll be grateful forevermore ....” 

On the same day I wrote the poem, “Eternally Grateful,” exactly one year after, on Sep. 8, 2022, the soul of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, departed this world for the next. 

I felt disappointed because she departed without reading the book. 

“There is still some hope. You can launch the book next year on one of her anniversaries- birthday or passing,” Robby said. 

My poem- “The Royal Poet,” says, “I have a desire to write for two Kingdoms ... For the two royals- the Queen and her King, The one mortal and the other forever living.” I told Robby, “The book is about two royals- one is dead, the other is alive forever, glory to God.” 

Some may accuse British Empire of colonising peoples, plundering resources, killing cultures and introducing English. I give credit where it’s due and address the oversights of both post-colonial governments of Commonwealth countries and of the British Crown in the poems. 

End   

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Fare Thee Well 

By Simon Peter Esaku

 

In this world we oft toil like termites of the anthill

And in equal measure feast like hunters after a kill.

We sail the calm waters of the biblical River Nile 

And brave storms on the Pacific Ocean every mile.  

 

We tire climbing the Andes and enjoy descending.

No sooner do we blossom than we wither bending.

One moment we grieve another we quickly rejoice

But everything to an end comes not by our choice.

 

Life on earth is no longer than a breath in eternity.

There cometh a time to go home, to our paternity, 

There where our earthly toils end and our tears dry,

Where there is no age, no day and night and no cry.  

 

But only the Eternal One can tell the hour and day,

The one who did’st create and so hath the final say.

If He invites me before thee, fare thee well, you tell,

If thou get’st the card before me, then fare thee well. 

End

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Eternally Grateful 

By Simon Peter Esaku

 

           When I stand up, one day,

           Ages and ages hence,

           And behold the celestial dawn

           Over the horizon yonder

 

I’ll kneel down and lift up my hands,

And worship You and thank You 

           Because my salvation has come

And your Kingdom is revealed.

 

When I leave death behind, 

           And my burdens and pleasures

           And enter the gates of your city

           And take my seat before You

 

           I’ll thank You forever,

           I’ll worship and praise You Lord

           For bringing me a long long way

           And for the glorious victory. 

 

I’ll be grateful forevermore,

Forevermore.

I’ll be grateful eternally,

Eternally.

 

And I’ll worship you my Lord forevermore,

Forevermore.

I’ll worship you eternally,

Eternally.

 

And I’ll praise you my Lord forevermore,

Forevermore,

I’ll praise you eternally.

Eternally.

 

I will thank You forevermore,

Forevermore.

I will thank You eternally,

Eternally.

 

I’ll be grateful forevermore,

Forevermore.

I’ll be grateful eternally,

Eternally.

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