Diana

A special poetic tribute to Princess Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday, written by Jan Millward.

Diana

Royal, beautiful, strong but naïve.
She walked into our hearts and will never leave.
We watched her blossom like a wild flower,
unique and unknowing how strong was her power.

She stole our hearts and we’re not sure why,
she was young and vulnerable and very shy.
She fell in love with a Royal Prince
and she’s been in our thoughts ever since.

We gasped at her gown on her wedding day,
holding on tight to her stunning bouquet.
But we didn’t know of the storm clouds ahead,
we just saw her youth and beauty instead.

She commanded the news and excited the press,
with every new bag and designer dress.
We copied her hair, we dreamt of her life
living the dream of a Royal young wife.

And then the babies, her precious young boys.
Pictured in papers, playing with their toys.
Her love shone out in every new story.
She had it all, the style and the glory.

But then we saw a different face,
behind the smile and delicate grace.
Dark clouds were gathering and we weren’t sure why.
She often looked like she’d just had a cry.

The press were relentless, they hunted her down.
Looking for cracks and making her frown.
The woman we knew as the people’s princess
was spirally down, her life was a mess.

We loved her for caring and trying so hard,
for letting us see life behind her guard.
For all the good she did in the world,
Her private life was exposed and unfurled.

She used her position to help other people,
we looked on in awe awaiting each sequel.
The lovers and lifestyle, the pain and the fun
but then she was gone, her life hardly begun.

We couldn’t take in what we saw in the news.
The car crash, the horror, everyone had views.
The nation was mourning, we all had a cry
as we said our farewells to our own Princess Di.

We wept at the princes as they followed behind
the flower covered coffin, they looked so resigned.
The end of an era, the country felt lost.
The press had their pictures, but what was the cost?

And time passes by, her boys are now men.
We look at the photo’s of them now and then.
She still shines so bright, we see her in their eyes.
And we stop and remember that love never dies

Jan Millward©