Scales of pearly cloud inlay North and south the turquoise sky. While the diamond lamp of day Quenchless burns, and time on high A moment halts upon his way Bidding noon again good-bye. Gaffers, gammers, huzzies, louts, Couples, gangs, and families Sprawling, shake, with Babel-shouts Bluff King Hal's funereal trees: And eddying groups of stare-abouts Quiz the sandstone Hercules. When their tongues and tempers tire, Harry and his little lot Condescendingly admire Lozenge-bed and crescent-plot, Aglow with links of azure fire, Pansy and forget-me-not. Where the emerald shadows rest In the lofty woodland aisle, Chaffing lovers quaintly dressed Chase and double many a mile, Indifferent exiles in the west Making love in cockney style. Now the echoing palace fills; Men and women, girls and boys Trample past the swords and frills, Kings and Queens and trulls and toys; Or listening loll on window-sills, Happy amateurs of noise! That for pictured rooms of state! Out they hurry, wench and knave, Where beyond the palace gate Dusty legions swarm and rave, With laughter, shriek, inane debate, Kentish fire and comic stave. Voices from the river call; Organs hammer tune on tune; Larks triumphant over all Herald twilight coming soon, For as the sun begins to fall Near the zenith gleams the moon. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN A GARDEN by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE EDWIN MORRIS; OR, THE LAKE by ALFRED TENNYSON ADVICE TO MY YOUNG WIFE by MAXWELL BODENHEIM THE SEVEN WORDS by GEORGE WILLARD BONTE EPITAPH ON ONE DROWNED IN THE SNOW by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) TO EVENING by SAMUEL EGERTON BRYDGES |