With thrice great Hermes, or unsphear What Worlds, or what vast Regions hold Or what (though rare) of later age, GOING UP TO LONDON BY NANCY BYRD TURNER "As I went up to London," I heard a stranger say- In such a casual way! He turned the magic phrase As though it were a common thing For careless lips to say. As he went up to London! I'll wager many a crown He never saw the road that I When I go up to London The broom will toss its brush for me; And sing a song together. And all the blossomy hedgerows As I go riding, riding Up to London town. Halting on a tall hill And half a hundred spires And a latticed window high They counted me a fool I could draw your skyline plain Riding, riding downward And many a slope of amethyst, Lords and flunkies, dukes and dames, Footmen falling back a space; I would scarcely stay my pace If I met the King himself He'd smile beneath his frown: Riding, riding eagerly, Thrusting through the throng, (Traveling light, Your Majesty, I'll hurry fast to London gate, I'll come at last to London gate, Singing me a song Some old rhyme of ancient time When wondrous things befell. And there the boys and girls at play, Quick will hail me, clear and sweet, Every little crooked street Will echo to their laughter; Lilting, as they mark my look, Chanting, two and two, Dreamed it, dreamed it in a dream And waked and found it true! Sing, you rhymes, and ring, you chimes, And swing, you bells of Bow! When I go up to London All the world shall know! TARTARY BY WALTER DE LA MARE If I were Lord of Tartary, My bed should be of ivory, Of beaten gold my throne; And in my court should peacocks flaunt, And in my forests tigers haunt, And in my pools great fishes slant Their fins athwart the sun. If I were Lord of Tartary, To every meal should summon me, And in the evening lamps would shine, While harp, and flute, and mandoline, Made music sweet and gay. If I were Lord of Tartary, White, and gold, and green they'd be— And ere should wane the morning-star, Lord of the fruits of Tartary, Lord of the hills of Tartary, Glen, thicket, wood, and dale! |