The Drake Jewel

In the New Year the Queen becomes the moon.

Her face a map, its’ creases sailor’s chart,

Her sleeves crescents, half lighting the night’s sky,

Glistering jewels stars that shine a beacon.

Sir Francis, aft adrift, at Queen’s behest

Navigates favour with treasures of spice.

Courtly presented, a blackened smile splits

The white sea, from his fainèd love to show.

Since she be Cynthia, her lunar tides

Counter-flood her list, with gems of pleasure.

Her gifts a ship’s glass, later foundering,

As the explorer’s mercury cools and falls.

Cameo of alabaster and black

Of white lady, native man, she decked

With Roman mantle, royal crown, they encased 

By forget-me-nots, behung with ocean pearls.

Inverse, Diana. The phoenix whose rise

Sets swift flight to the Spanish Armada.

Under whose slight fingers, the globe will rest,

Lands broken, torn by merchant’s pickaxes.

The audience’s eyes bore holes, and watch

My lady Juno, with current favourite.

She looks to see within his face such dread,

For in this jewel, all the world’s encompassèd.