Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ST. PAUL'S DAY, 1925, by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB First Line: Londoners all and citizens of empire Last Line: Sworn to uphold him. Subject(s): St. Paul's Cathedral, London | ||||||||
Londoners all and citizens of Empire, Who beneath Paul's high benison protected Ply the day's labour, busy and rejoicing, Guard the Cathedral! Faithful hands reared it when along the Thames-side Nought remained standingmagazine or altar; Faithful hearts pray'd then for a renewal, And Wren achiev'd it Grandly; nor spared magnificence to aid him, And the great dome rose as his art commanded. Yearly, so fable telleth us, the master Came in his old age Back to give thanks and meditate, beholding How the pile soared, orbicular, columnar; Then returned homewards happy not to linger Where men assembled. "Seek ye" (he speaks) "my monument? around you Look." To-day that same epitaph proclaims him Architrave, cornice, pediment, the circling Balcony's ambit. What peril, but that pieties prevent it, Now threatens? Erewhile on a time in earnest Danger encompassed this, as ev'ry minor Fane set about it: Till the long years' imprisoning was over, And the grateful bells rang again, triumphant, Sweet heralds post-haste on an angel errand Up to the welkin. O'er the whole restless city Paul resounded, High above rivalsthe Clements, the Dunstans, Margarets, Michaels, Katherines, his ancient Dutiful henchmen. Te Deum pealed he then alofthis edict; Te Deum peals yet, spreading airy witness Of benign favours on a trusty London Sworn to uphold him. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EPITAPH (AFTER THE GREEK EPIGRAMS) by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB ARS GUBERNANDI by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB AT THE FIREMEN'S EXHIBITION by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB AUTHORS IN LONDON by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB AUTUMN'S SPLENDOURS by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB BATTERSEA PARK by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB BBC by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB D.O. BARNETT by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB DELIVERANCE by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB ENVOI by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB |
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