Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DOMINANT CITY, by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DOMINANT CITY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It is the city of night, of drunkenness, and of dream
Last Line: That has crushed and is devouring its mad dream.
Subject(s): London


IT is the city of night, of drunkenness, and of dream.
In waves that thunder on the shores of night,
The streets hurl out their molten wealth of flame;
Vast spendthrifts maddened with pride, drunken with praise,
They squander the molten gold of sunless days.
It is the city of mystery, of madness, and of desire.
At the corners of the street, motionless,
Blear-eyed loafers look upon the mad
Leaping of lamps, the whirl of wheels, the babel of cries,
Lovers walk amid them; they are sad.
It is the city of silence, of hope, and hypocrisy.
Now they vanish, all the wheels whirl round no more,
Far behind them waits in mockery silent night.
Though the darkness brings the city lust and sleep,
Through the dawn there slinks death's phantom, ghastly white.
It is the city that has butchered night!
That has forgotten drunkenness in pain:
That has crushed and is devouring its mad dream.





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