London Poems

Question of the week: In light of this week’s mood, what is your favourite London poem?

"It’s my favourite love poem to London, but it’s not really seasonal – it always makes me think of London in the heat of summer – so I probably can’t say ‘London Breed’ by Benjamin Zephaniah, so – maybe Wordsworth’s Composed upon Westminster Bridge, from almost 200 years prior, which I know was written in autumn, but equally applies to the cold, clear beauty of a February morning- maybe even with a dusting of snow!"- Miss Alice

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill;
Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep:
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

* Photo by PHOTOGRAPHER, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.