Floral Tribute & Poet Laureate Notes

Floral Tribute Poem Analysis

The poem "Floral Tribute" was composed by Simon Armitage, the Poet Laureate, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
The poem is a tribute to the Queen, using imagery and metaphors related to nature and her connection to Scotland.

Evening and Transition: The poem opens with the image of evening, symbolizing the end of the Queen's life and reign.
Nature: References to limes, oaks, mist, rain, lochs, and Munros (Scottish mountains) evoke the natural landscape, particularly of Scotland.
- Limes and oaks in their last green flush suggest the end of summer and the transition to autumn or winter, paralleling the end of the Queen's life.
- Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros emphasizes the solemnity and mourning.
Lily of the Valley: The lily of the valley is a central image in the poem, serving as a symbol of the Queen.
- It's a "token of thanks" and a "gift in return" for the Queen's service and dedication.
- The lily is described as having "soft glare framing the brilliant globes," representing the Queen's radiance and influence.
- The flowers are "guarded by stern lance-like leaves," symbolizing protection and strength.
- The poem notes its resemblance to the Queen Elizabeth II as a namesake.
- The lily thrives "between spire and tree," connecting religious and natural realms, reflecting the Queen's role as head of the Church of England and her connection to the land.
Hands: The poem mentions the Queen's "slender hands" that held the weight of a century, now able to rest.

Metaphor: The lily of the valley serves as a metaphor for the Queen, representing her qualities and impact.
Simile: Implicitly implied to describe the lantern-like inflorescence of the lily.
Allusion: The poem alludes to the Queen's time spent at Balmoral and her affinity for Scotland.

"A promise made and kept for life – that was your gift – Because of which, here is a gift in return": This refers to the Queen's lifelong dedication to her role, for which the poem is a tribute.
"The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands, Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight": This highlights the immense responsibility the Queen carried and her release from that burden upon her death.
"Everything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots, This lily that thrives between spire and tree, whose brightness Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom": This emphasizes the Queen's enduring legacy and the continuing impact of her life and reign.

The poem reflects a tone of sadness and somberness, befitting the occasion of the Queen's death.
The phrase "arch of stellar honey" is used, though further context is needed to understand its significance fully.

Position: The British Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Tenure: Since 1999, the position has been a 10-year tenure.
Remuneration: The Poet Laureate receives an honorarium of around £6,000 a year and 720 bottles of sherry over the duration.
Duties: There are no specific duties, but the holder is expected to write verse for significant national occasions.
Origins: The origins of the laureateship date back to 1616.

Appointment: Appointed in 2019.
Previous Work: Armitage had written “about a dozen laureate poems” before his first royal piece.
Background: Previously worked as a probation officer and held academic posts teaching creative writing, including Professor of Poetry at Oxford and Leeds.
Focus: Armitage is a critic and advocate of poetry and access to literature.
Initiatives: He spends a week each year touring selected libraries, giving poetry readings, introducing local guest poets, and trying “to involve communities where English might not be the first language.”

Carol Ann Duffy: First female and first Scot to hold the position.
- Composed “Rings” in 2011 for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine.
- Composed “Richard” in 2015 for the reinterment of the corpse of 15th c. King Richard III.
Simon Armitage: Composed “The Patriarchs – An Elegy” in 2021 on the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh / Prince Philip (Armitage recited poem at funeral).