Impression Du Matin

THE Thames nocturne of blue and gold

               Changed to a Harmony in grey:

               A barge with ochre-coloured hay

             Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold

             The yellow fog came creeping down

               The bridges, till the houses' walls

               Seemed changed to shadows, and St. Paul's

             Loomed like a bubble o'er the town.

             Then suddenly arose the clang

               Of waking life; the streets were stirred        

               With country waggons: and a bird

             Flew to the glistening roofs and sang.

             But one pale woman all alone,

               The daylight kissing her wan hair,

               Loitered beneath the gas lamps' flare,

             With lips of flame and heart of stone.