She is in the Shetland Islands
or possibly Shangra-La
an undisclosed location, a castle
your pleas can never reach
 
The Queen is comparing tiny diamonds
with a magnifying glass or demanding
her pale hands (you loved them beside
the Shalimar) be bathed in almond milk
 
and oatmeal and that the serving wench
Bessie scratch her lofty nose
Besides there is the matter
of the Ostend Manifesto
 
so it is with sincere though slight
regret that we, the servants
of the hidden palace, we muslin-
clad inferiors, inform you that
 
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