He said that he had given up writing verse in 1984, commenting that "I was never a good writer, and my poetry wasn't very good either. I know that. I'm not bitter at all."[2] Harkins said that he had originally written the poem down in the margin of his copy of Dylan Thomas' verse Once It Was The Colour Of Saying, but after reading of its use at the Queen Mother's funeral had removed the page and sent it as a gift to Prince Charles, who thanked him.[3][2]