The Poetic Hill

May 2019

1175

Carnell Boyd is a writer, painter, and poet who has always liked writing, “but more so over the last 28 years.” He describes his poems as ranging “from religion to what I call ‘getting fresh’ to patriotic.” Boyd is the author of “A Trojan Called Viking” and a former member of the National Society of Poets, “who somehow heard my name and invited me to a poetry contest in Las Vegas several years ago. I didn’t win, of course.” His poem below is a moving tribute to a very special queen.

THE QUEEN’S IMMORTALITY
When you enter your heavenly space, singing your
favorite song, Amazing Grace, an angel opens
a door, with a wonder, has she been here before.
You’re crooning from within your soul’s core,
another angel opens a door, with a wonder, has she
been here before.
Your voice sounding out into that ranging soar,
an angel opens a door, with a wonder, has
she been here before.
An immaculate melody coming from where
you had in store,
Another angel opens a door, with a wonder, has
she been here before.
The beauty of the octaves going up and down
right out of your inner bore, an angel opens a
door, with a wonder, has she been here before.
The ending nears on heaven’s grand floor, the angels
standing at each door, shouting, Aretha, we want more!

If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.)