
A haunting narrative poem invites listeners into the final hours of a once‑powerful queen, now confined to a damp, straw‑filled cell beneath the shadow of her fallen kingdom. As the clamor of battle drifts through stone walls, she sits alone, her regal bearing weathered by betrayal and the looming threat of a brutal execution. The verses weave her memories of triumph and loss, turning the bleak surroundings into a stage for inner reflection.
The poem’s voice is both lyrical and stark, offering vivid images of the queen’s haunted thoughts and the unexpected arrival of a sorrowful priest. Their tense exchange reveals the depth of her anguish and the weight of past sins, while the poet’s language captures the clash between historic grandeur and the stark reality of her captivity. Listeners will be drawn into this intimate meditation on power, dignity, and the quiet courage that surfaces when fate closes in.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (61K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by D A Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2019-01-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1882–1935
Best known for a vivid World War I novel that drew on his own service, this Australian-born writer built a small but lasting reputation for honesty, style, and quiet intensity. His work is still remembered for bringing the daily life of soldiers onto the page without romance or bombast.
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