The centre of Sydney hosts a statue -
Queen Victoria at three metres tall,
Patinated bronze, on a stone plinth too;
Fronts the QVB, regalia and all –
A gracious building she endorses anew.
It was Ireland’s history in time of ferment
Which dismissed, removed an Irish sculptor’s Queen;
(In ’48 from front of their parliament).
Later the QVB became very keen,
While the Irish Republic lacked lament…
Happens it’s 1987 and I’m
New to Sydney, when during a stroll
I find positioned there Her Maj in her prime.
One year earlier she was erected whole -
Made like she’s sat there a very long time…
Now, a new political discourse is here:
The return of the Elgin marbles to Greece…
Repatriate the Benin bronzes, you hear?
But Ireland makes no demands for her release,
And the UK has also ignored me I fear…..
“The repatriation of this old artyfart (misprint – ‘artifact’ surely??) is not required by His Majesty’s Government.”