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? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ADDRESS TO THE UNCO GUID, OR THE RIGIDLY RIGHTEOUS by ROBERT BURNS POETA FIT, NON NASCITUR by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON GREEN SYMPHONY by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER LONG ISLAND SOUND by EMMA LAZARUS SIR JOHN FRANKLIN; ON THE CENTOTAPH IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY by ALFRED TENNYSON SATIRES: 51. UPON NOTHING by JOHN WILMOT |