For the Queen’s Birthday
     after ‘Spem in alium’ c.1570: Thomas Tallis

A ribbon of sound from one silver-blue voice
then the shade deepens to amber, topaz,
as the voices increase until all eight choirs sing.
 
the sound expands, floats out, moves into reverse,
gold set against blue again
and then finally blue resurging, fading,
tiered like a crown yet resting on the
head lightly, giving peace.
 
this music is like a dress
moving gently, the skirt smooth
full of golden light,
embroidered with sapphires, amber,
pearls, marguerites, lilies for a virgin queen.
 
when the eight choirs sing
there is a sound of crimson,
a garnet necklace lying against creamy skin:
a fitting gift for Oriana
with flowery garlands crowned,
renowned queen, better your own Tallis
than the notes of Palestrina in Rome:
 
we give her our gift of song
for her birthday, our Elizabeth,
we have put our hope in no other.
 

Thelma Laycock

in collection, A Persistence of Colour, 2011, Indigo Dreams,
ISBN 978-1-907401-49-7