Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LIONEL JOHNSON, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LIONEL JOHNSON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: There was a murkier tinge in london's air
Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce
Subject(s): Johnson, Lionel (1867-1902); Poetry And Poets






There was a murkier tinge in London's air
There was a murkier tinge in London's air
As if the honest fog blushed black for shame.
As if the honest fog blushed black for shame.
Fools sang of sin, for other fools' acclaim,
Fools sang of sin, for other fools' acclaim,
And Milton's wreath was tossed to Baudelaire.
And Milton's wreath was tossed to Baudelaire.
The flowers of evil blossomed everywhere,
The flowers of evil blossomed everywhere,
But in their midst a radiant lily came
But in their midst a radiant lily came
Candescent, pure, a cup of living flame,
Candescent, pure, a cup of living flame,
Bloomed for a day, and left the earth more fair.
Bloomed for a day, and left the earth more fair.




And was it Charles, thy "fair and fatal King",
And was it Charles, thy "fair and fatal King",
Who bade thee welcome to the lovely land?
Who bade thee welcome to the lovely land?
Or did Lord David cease to harp and sing
Or did Lord David cease to harp and sing
To take in his thine emulative hand?
To take in his thine emulative hand?
Or did Our Lady's smile shine forth, to bring
Or did Our Lady's smile shine forth, to bring
Her lyric Knight within her choir to stand?
Her lyric Knight within her choir to stand?








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