Balmoral

Weekend in the Country

By: Charles Giuliano - Dec 16, 2018

Balmoral

Heathrow by chopper
On the lawn
Balmoral Castle
Quaint country cottage
Annual holiday weekend
Shown to my room
In the North Tower
Such ancient oak
Carved and gnarly
The Sicilian tartan
Such garish plaid
Reeking of Omertà
Laid on vast bed
For later in the day
Drinks in the library
Before dining on game
Ritual hunting party
Beaters and loaders
It takes a village
Pheasant and grouse
A bit of shooting
Roaming the heath
High in the heather
Bone chilling Scotland
So damp and cold
Warmed by the hearth
Ancient single malt
Rare and smoky
Fit for would be king
Throne of his own
Tête-à-tête
Charles and Charles
Long secret friends
As it has been
Through the years
More melancholy now
Tales of legacy
Family feuds
Tabloid news
A haunted house
Mutual interests
Art and architecture
Talk of Delacroix
Romantic rebellion
Rape and revolution
Swooshing the slopes
Monarchs and moguls
Thrust and parry
Foibles and foils
Roiling repartee
Give no quarter
Roundhead vs. Cavalier
Winding down to
His recent water colors
My usual critique
Restrained yet unique
With all due respect
The ancient castle
Mostly empty now
Elderly monarchs
Confined to suites
Their private lives
Just glimpses of them
She with the pups
Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Such a silly breed
He bent on the mend
Shadow catcher
The kids far away
Making their heirs
Swamped by media
Alone with the Prince
Arc of our lives
Criss-crossing
Ravishing rants
Swooshing the slopes
Monarchs and moguls
Ties that bind
Odd commonality
Glimpse of outside
Letting his hair down
What’s left of it
Such good friends
No talk of Brexit
Come what May
Or God and country
Who's to say
Narrow topics
Courtly protocols
Knowing one’s place
Matters of the heart
Hinted decorously
What it’s all about
Beyond our beyond
Outer limits
Basic humanity
Rough and tumble
All is vanity
Clinging to sanity
Binding us all
Grim reaper
Knows no rank
Ah, there’s the rub
One last toast
Honor to my host
Happy holidays
Goodnight sweet Prince
Deepest sleep
Perchance to dream