The 224th Anniversary of Marie Antoinette's Death

Yesterday, in 1793 (two-hundred and twenty-four years ago), Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine. To honor her memory, I've written an acrostic poem, Marie Antoinette, R. (R. stands for Reine, the French word for "Queen," and I added the extra letter because it completed the poem's final stanza). I hope you enjoy it!

Marie Antoinette, R.

Most noble, regal Antoine (though

An angel you were not),

Really, you couldn’t stem the tide of

Ire rich and poor so wrought.

Even though you did your best,

Acting in your queenly role,

Not a soul stirred in that crowd

To save from death your gentle soul.

On a sunny morn in May,

In hope, you met your tender groom.

New friendship bloomed in time to love, which

Eased you both in your sad doom.

To some, you were a sinful jade;

To others, a saint, without a doubt - 

Except you were neither ideal nor vile, but

Rather, a lady of virtuous clout.

Image: Antoinette strolling through the Petit Trianon’s gardens with her two oldest children Marie Thérèse and Louis-Joseph, by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, in 1785.