Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LONDON BRIDGE, by FREDERIC EDWARD WEATHERLY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LONDON BRIDGE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Proud and lowly, beggar and lord
Last Line: Until the river no more shall run.
Subject(s): Life; London; Mankind; Human Race


Proud and lowly, beggar and lord,
Over the bridge they go;
Rags and velvet, fetter and sword,
Poverty, pomp, and woe.
Laughing, weeping, hurrying ever,
Hour by hour they crowd along,
While, below, the mighty river
Sings them all a mocking song,
Hurry along, sorrow and song,
All is vanity 'neath the sun;
Velvet and rags, so the world wags,
Until the river no more shall run.
Dainty, painted, powdered and gay,
Rolleth my lady by;
Rags-and-tatters, over the way,
Carries a heart as high.
Flowers and dreams from country meadows,
Dust and din through city skies,
Old men creeping with their shadows,
Children with their sunny eyes,--
Hurry along, sorrow and song,
All is vanity 'neath the sun;
Velvet and rags, so the world wags,
Until the river no more shall run.
Storm and sunshine, peace and strife,
Over the bridge they go;
Floating on in the tide of life,
Whither no man shall know.
Who will miss them there to-morrow,
Waifs that drift to the shade or sun?
Gone away with their songs and sorrow;
Only the river still flows on.
Hurry along, sorrow and song,
All is vanity 'neath the sun;
Velvet and rags, so the world wags,
Until the river no more shall run.




Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net