Oh, abominable city! Home of Babylonic revels! Luring lights that know not pity! Fascinating female devils! Fell Temptation is a despot And his court assembles there In the Wicked City -- Yes, but Where? I am proof against Temptation, I am clad in shining armour, I would spurn the fascination Of a fair but hellish charmer; From her wiles I am exempted; Still, it's strange as it can be That no one yet has tempted Me. Oh, abominable city! Laughing Siren of seduction! Those unhappy men I pity Whom you tempted to destruction; Your temptation won them; now they Cluster helplessly around it; -- But at times I wonder how they Found it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BARD'S EPITAPH by ROBERT BURNS DISASTER by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY THE DONKEY by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON AN ANCIENT PROPHECY by PHILIP FRENEAU BALLAD OF THE GOODLY FERE by EZRA POUND THE FAMILY MAN by JOHN GODFREY SAXE |