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The Lady Jane Grey Internet Museum Poetry

Nine Days A Queen - The Lady Jane Grey

by Gene Dixon

Within the greystone's shadowed gloom,
the castle keep, a candled room,
confined as in an early tomb,
the Lady faces Fate.

Sand in glass to mark her time.
Scaffold steps to mark her climb.
Her soul to God, her tale to rhyme;
what's left to contemplate?

Edward quickly breathed his last.
As king, his role was sore miscast.
A child within an empire vast,
he could not navigate.

Little spent of life's good youth,
Jane's royal right both lie and truth,
urged on by Lords of questioned couth
and lust for high estate.

The vacant throne within their grasp,
ignoring Jane's astonished gasp.
The bride secured like lock in hasp,
leave nothing to debate.

In truth, it's Mary's time to reign.
Her Faith, his Lordship does disdain.
"She's linked to Rome by golden chain,
yoked by Papal weight!"

Elizabeth, in silence stands.
Her heart held in her sister's hands.
She quietly meets all demands
as princess surrogate.

Two maids dishonored by design.
"No queen descends from concubine!"
Jane stands in falsehood's royal line
to claim the English state

Nine days she wore the English crown.
Nine days before the lie fell down.
Who now to play the royal clown?
Whose life to confiscate?

Grim tidings to the Lady Grey.
Tomorrow is your dying day.
Your name etched deep into the clay
of London Tower's gate.

Within the greystone's shadowed gloom,
the castle keep, a candled room,
sits there Queen Jane, a fading bloom,
her sin to expiate.

Poem Additional Notes:

Jane Grey was crowned queen of England upon the death, in 1553, of Edward VI, son of Henry VIII. Her coronation was part of a plot by her husband, Lord Dudley and his father, the Duke of Northumberland, to capture control of the state. Her reign ended nine days later when supporters of Henry's first child, Mary, returned the throne to its rightful owner. Jane's husband carved her name into the wall of his cell in London Tower while he awaited execution. It can be seen there even today. Jane, her husband, Lord Dudley and his father, the Duke of Northumberland, were beheaded for their crimes.
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