Analysis of Leila And Athelstan, Our Loving Mom and Dad (In Celebration of Your 50th Wedding Anniversary)

Two score years and ten of yesterday,
You two did tie the knot:
Whereof you spun your golden thread,
And made the land fertile.
It was in Nineteen Thirty Five.
Four years before the War …
Six years after The Great Depression,
That you two sealed your fate.

And that of those who now in praise,
Do grace your royal presence.
You two in holy matrimony joined hands.
And hearts, and minds, and souls.
And from this union there sprung
A family of ten …
Consisting of four boys, four girls,
And you two at the helm.

In “Karl” your eldest and your first,
Your covenant was sealed.
A son to keep the Faith alive …
To make the future bright.
And while you dwelled upon this boon,
Another son was born …
Barrington St. George, his name …
Of disposition keen.

Two sons to spread the royal seal  —
Of “Neysmith” and of “Folkes.”
The royal cradle … blest once more,
A daughter to you born …
“Shyrine Vernce,” your eldest girl:
A father’s pride esteemed!
A mother’s love redeemed!
Within this human fold of love.

Yet came another child …
A precious, loving, sweet princess …
With name of “Kay Cisrene.”
In loving memory she rests …
Angelic in repose —
The family did grow and grow …
Another son now born …
The war years barely at an end.

England at peace from war.
And in America, ‘cross the seas …
Roosevelt — The President.
So thus you named this son, “Douglas Roosevelt.”
Your sense of history strong.
Democracy rejoiced her gain.
And you rejoiced yours too.
The post-war years brought hope to all.

A chance to right all wrongs.
Amidst this time of heartfelt joy,
A daughter to you came …
In sweet December when mankind …
Awaits the Christmastide.
Again your sense of history …
Of poetry and of prose …
Did surface with such class — such style.

When once more came a child …
A bonnie, wee princess to bless —
“Jennifer Yulette Folkes.”
The royal lineage extended thus …
In ten years of sweet bliss,
You two again produced an heir.
And him you named again — in tribute
To Freedom and Democracy.

The quest for peace from yesteryear,
Not e’er forgotten by you,
But seen in harmony with the present,
You named this son — likewise.
“Selwyn Anthony Waterloo” …
The names of leaders strong.
In following year of ‘46 …
December days now here …

The cradle came alive again …
A lovely daughter born …
“Cecile Yvonne,” her glorious name …
Your youngest — and your last.
So thus all eight to you were born …
And now … they multiply —
A tribe of Folkes upon this land.
Their seed in every other.

The royal legacy of you two Folkes …
“Athelstan and Leila” …
Has spread in manifold ways — quite clear.
Engulfing worlds apart.
And now at anniversary time we stand,
To cheer you on in praise.
To love and bless you two this day …
Our loving mom and dad.

[On the Eve of Good Friday (Maundy Thursday), April the Fourth, in the Year of the Lord, One Thousand, Nine Hundred, and Eighty Five]