The Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer's day;
The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away.
The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave
full sore
The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed
he'd steal no more.
This little poem was popularised by Lewis Carroll in 1865 when he inserted it in Alice in Wonderland. However, its origins go back much further to 1782, to a poem anonymously published in The European Magazine. There were three other stanzas, which have since fallen into obscurity: The King of Spades, The King of Clubs, and The Diamond King, describing the romantic entanglements of all three suits. Flirting, marital discord and seduction are the themes. [Wikipedia]
What I find most fascinating about this history is that once upon a time I myself wrote a poem titled The Queen of Tarts – The Tale of How the Deck Was Born, taking a very similar theme. The Queen of Hearts is a real flirt, dating all the Kings and Knaves one after another, thus alienating (not surprisingly) all the other Queens. I stuffed the poem with as many puns as I could think of. Here are some of my favourite lines:
… Of these, the Queen of Spades was most vocal
(She never frequented the local,
Nor ever missed a curfew –
She was a pattern-card of virtue.)
“You’re just jealous coz he thought I was cuter!”
The Queen of Hearts referred to her latest suitor.
The Queen of Spades’ mood grew black,
(She couldn’t take the flack,
And was put to the blush –
A brightly royal flush!)
She drew the Knave of Clubs to her side,
“He at least agrees with me!” she cried.
“Oh – that jackanapes,
It’s only sour grapes,”
Yawned the Queen of Tarts,
Nibbling on some cherry hearts …
So’s anyone been nibbling on some hearts today? I only wolfed down an indescribably delicious strawberry tart myself, but I hope you’ve had a sweet Valentine’s Day. Kisses!
Dress by Maeve for Anthropologie, vintage cloak and tiara; strawberry tart from French Fantasies
Backdrop, Palácio Nacional de Sintra