JUDD STREET, ST. PANCRAS

My dwelling has a courtyard wide

Where lord with lady well might pace,

— Such silks and velvets side by side,

And she a fan to shield her face!—

It's fine as any king's;

For there I see on either hand

The whole great stretch of London lie;

— Just so as any king might stand

Upon his roof, to watch go by

The flashing pigeon wings.

Just so a king might look abroad:

“And this is all my own,” says he,

And then he'd turn to some great lord,

Who'd acquiesce with gravity

— But that I do without,

For all of lord there is up here

Is this impassive chimney-stack,

And cloudy be my view or clear

My courtier will not answer back;

All silent I look out,

And see the flight of roofs that fade

Towards the West in golden haze,

And all this work men's hands have made

Like jewels in the sun's last rays —

I have a dwelling wide;

Three rooms are mine, but I can go

Up to this roof in shade or shine,

And watch all London change and glow

Rose, purple, gold; three rooms are mine —

And all of heaven beside.