This poem was composed and presented to Queen Elizabeth, consort of King George VI in 1947, for an exhibition of books of poetry. This presentation copy has been done in calligraphy using black, blue and red ink. The vellum binding has been decorated with flowers, birds and an illuminated crown. Although written over 60 years ago, this poem expresses much the same sentiment as this exhibition of poets laureate work. Masefield expresses the feelings of a poet laureate: 'May they be gladdened, where they rest from toil, That England's Queen has looked upon their spoil.' John Masefield was poet laureate from 1930 to his death in 1967. He was a prolific poet and fiction writer, and by the end of his life his volume of 'Collected Poems' had sold over 200,000 copies. This was an unprecedented figure for a modern poet, and spoke to his popularity with readers. Today, however, he is perhaps most well known as a children's writer, having authored such classics as The Midnight Folk (1927) and The Box of Delights (1935).