bleeker street

where no parades were held

no flags were drawn at half-mast

for your first lady

your matriarch

salute only paid in hush tones

carried by the wind

from sherbourne

and wellesley

and along dimmed halls

of fudger house

life stories

told by those

the remnants of a

commonwealth long gone

so bleeker street

where no 21 guns blast

and no live to air in memoriam

broadcast

just a somber stream

of people

entering 55

carrying the wind

to speak softly

and smile

amidst the tears

smiles for a life lived

tears for a shade lost

a tree grew on bleeker

for many seasons

and for this reason

the wind carries

from the south-east

parliament

and regent park

pay their peace

passengers on

the same streetcar

of desire

the 506 passes by

to play

symbolic

much like the day

it fades away

into the night

as a lone figure

stumbles through

cabbagetown

a loyal servant

to the crown

removed

from his days

in the kingdom

weary but wiser

reminiscent of

the houses of aberdeen

ontario

winchester

and rose

they pause

as the wind howls

and blows

a lamp

flickers out

the men on the corner

have finished

their stout

they take muted steps home

as the city lights

shine upon the throne

the queen is dead

long live the queen