Iheldthellagelilycheap，Andthedreamaroundheridle：
Lo，quietlyasIlaytosleep，Thebellsledmeofftoabridal。
MybrideworethehoodofaBeguine，Andminewasthefoottofalter；
Threecowledmonks，rat-eyed，wereseen；
TheCrosswasofboneso’erthealtar。
TheCrosswasofbones；thepriestthatread，Aspectaclednecromancer：
Butatthefourthword，thebrideIledChangedtoanOperadancer。
Ayoungballet-beauty，whoperkedinherplace，Adarlingofpinkandspangles；
Onefairfootlevelwithherface，Andtheheartsofmenatherankles。
Shewhirled，shetwirled，themock-priestgrinned，Andquicklyhismaskunriddled；
’TwasAdrian!loudhisoldlaughterdinned；
Thenheseizedafiddle，andfiddled。
Hefiddled，heglowedwiththebottomlessfire，LikeSathanasinfeature：
AllthroughmehefiddledawolfishdesireTodancewiththatbrightcreature。
AndgatheringcourageIsaidtomysoul，Throttlethethingthathinders!
Whenthethreecowledmonks，fromblackascoal，Waxedhotasfurnace-cinders。
Theycaughtherup，twirling：theyleaptbetween-whiles：
Thefiddlerflickeredwithlaughter：
Profanelytheyflewdowntheawfulaisles，WhereIwentslidingafter。
Downtheawfulaisles，bythefrettedwalls，BeneaththeGothicarches：-
KingSkullintheblackconfessionalsSatrub-a-dub-dubbinghismarches。
Thenthesilentcoldstonewarriorsfrowned，Thepicturedsaintsstrodeforward：
Awhirlwindsweptthemfromholyground；
Atempestpuffedthemnor’ward。
Theyshotthroughthegreatcathedraldoor；
Likemallardstheytraversedocean：
Andgazingbelow，onitsboilingfloor，Imarkedahorridcommotion。
Downaforest’slongalleystheyspunliketops：
Itseemedthatforagesandages，Thro’theBookofLifebereftofstops，Theywaltzedcontinuouspages。
Andagesafter，scarceawake，Andmybloodwiththefeverfretting，Istoodalonebyaforest-lake，Whoseshadowsthemoonwerenetting。
Lilies，goldenandwhite，bythecurlsOftheirbroadflatleaveshungswaying。
AwreathoflanguidtwininggirlsStreamedupward，longlocksdisarraying。
Theircheekshadthesatinfrost-glowofthemoon；
TheireyesthefireofSirius。
Theycircled，anddronedamonotonoustune，Abandonedtolovedelirious。
Likelengthsofconvolvulustornfromthehedge，Andtrailingthehighwayover，Thedreamy-eyedmistressescircledthesedge，Andcalledforalover，alover!
Isank，Irosethroughseasofeyes，Inodorousswathesdelicious：
Theyfannedmewithimpetuoussighs，Theyhitmewithkissescious。
Myearswerespelled，myneckwascoiled，AndIwiththeirfurywasglowing，WhenthemarblywatersbubbledandboiledAtawaterynoiseofcrowing。
Theydraggedmelowandlowtothelake：
Theirkissesmorestormilyshowered；
Ontheemeraldbrink，inthewhitemoon’swake，Anearthlydamselcowered。
Freshheart-sobsshookherknittedhandsBeneathatinysuckling，AsonebyoneofthedolefulbandsDedlikeafairyduckling。
Andnowmyturnhadcome——Ome!
Whatwisdomwasminethatsecond!
Idroppedontheadorer’sknee；
TothatsweetfigureIbeckoned。
Saveme!saveme!fornowIknowThepowersthatNaturegaveme，AndthevalueofhonestloveIknow：-
Myllagelily!saveme!
Come’twtmeandthesisterhood，Whilethepassion-bornphantomsarefleeing!
Oh，hethatistruetofleshandbloodIstruetohisownbeing!
AndhethatisfalsetofleshandbloodIsfalsetothestarwithinhim：
AndthemadandhungrysisterhoodAllunderthetidesshallwinhim!
Myllagelily!saveme!save!
Forstrengthiswiththeholy：-
AlreadyIshudderedtofeelthewave，AsIkeptsinkingslowly：-
Ifeltthecoldwaveandtheunder-tugOftheBrides，when——startingandshrinking-
Lo，Adriantiltsthewater-jug!
AndBrugeswithmornisblinking。
MerrilysparklessunnyprimeOngabledpeakandarbour：
Merrilyrattlesbelfry-chimeThesongofSella’sBarber。
Whate’erIbe，oldEnglandismydam!
Sothere’smyanswertothejudges，clear。
I’mnothingofafox，norofalamb；
Idon’tknowhowtobleatnorhowtoleer：
I’mforthenation!
That’swhyyouseemebythewaysidehere，Returninghomefromtransportation。
It’sSummerinherbaththismorn，Ithink。
I’mfreshasdew，andchirpyasthebirds：
AndjustforjoytoseeoldEnglandwinkThro’leavesagain，Icouldharanguetheherds：
Isn’titsomethingTospeakoutlikeamanwhenyou’vegotwords，Andproveyou’renotastupiddumbthing？
Theyshipp’dmeofforit；I’mhereagain。
OldEnglandismydam，whate’erIbe!
SaysI，I’lltrampithome，andseethegrain：
Ifyouseewell，you’rekingofwhatyousee：
Eyesightishang，Ifyou’renotgen，Isaid，togluttony。
Suchtalktoignorancesoundsasrang。
Youdearoldbrook，thatfromhisGrace’sparkComebounding!onyourunnearmyoldtown：
Mylordcan’tlockthewater；northelark，Unlesshekillshim，canmylordkeepdown。
Up，isthesong-note!
I’vetriedit，too：-forcomfortandrenown，Iratherpitch’duponthewrongnote。
I’mnotashamed：Notbeaten’sstillmyboast：
AgainI’llrousethepeopleuptostrike。
Buthome’swheredifferentpoliticsjarmost。
Respectabilitythewomenlike。
Thisform，orthatform，-
TheGovernmentmaybehungrypike，Butdon’tyoumountaChartistplatform!
Well，well!Notbeaten——spiteofthem，Ishout；
AndmyestateissufferingfortheCause-
No，——whatisyonbrownwater-ratabout，Whowasheshisoldpollwithbusypaws？
Whatdoeshemeanby’t？
It’slikedefyingallournaturallaws，Forhimtohopethathe’llgetcleanby’t。
Hisseatisonamud-bank，andhistradeIsdirt：-he’squitecontemptible；andyetThefellow’sallasanousasamaidToshowadecentdress，anddrythewet。
Nowit’shiswhisker，Andnowhisnose，andear：heseemstogetEachmomentatthemotionbrisker!
Toseehimsquatlikelittlechapsatschool，Icouldletflyalaughwithallmymight。
Hepeers，hangsbothhisfore-paws：-blessthatfool，He’sbobbingathisfrillnow!——whatasight!
Lickingthedishup，Asifhethoughttopassfromblacktowhite，Likeparsonintolawnybishop。
Theelmsandyellowreed-flagsinthesun，Lookonquitegrave：-thesunlightfleckshisside；
Andlinksofbindweed-flowersroundhimrun，Andshineupdoubledwithhiminthetide。
I’Mnearlysplitting，Butnatureseemslikesecondinghispride，Andthinksthathisbehaour’sfitting。
Thatisleo’mudlooksbakingdrywithgold。
Hisneedle-muzzlestillworksoutandin。
Itreallyisawondertobehold，Andmakesmefeelthebristlesofmychin。
Judgedbyappearance，IfancyofthetwoI’mnearerSin，Andmightaswellcommenceaclearance。
Andthat’swhatmyfinedaughtersaid：-shemeant：
Pray，holdyourtongue，andwearaSundayface。
Herhusband，theyounglinendraper，spentMuchargumentthereon：-I’mtheirdisgrace。
Botherthecouple!
IfeelsuperiortoachapwhoseplaceCommandshimtobeneatandsupple。
ButifIgoandsaytomyoldhen：
I’llmendthegentry’sboots，andkeepdiscreet，UntiltheygrowTOOolent，——why，then，AwarmerwelcomeImightchancetomeet：
Warmerandbetter。
Andifshefanciesheroldcockisbeat，Anddropsuponherknees——solether!
Shesufferedforme：-women，you’llobserve，Don’tsufferforaCause，butforaman。
WhenIwasinthedocksheshow’dhernerve：
Isawbeneathhershawlmyoldtea-canTrembling……shebroughtitToscrewmeformywork：sheloath’dmyplan，AndthereforedoublykindIthoughtit。
I’veneverlostthetasteofthatsametea：
Thatliquoronmylogicfloatslikeoil，WhenIstatefacts，andfellowsdisagree。
Forhumancreaturesallareinacoil；
Allmaywantpardon。
IseeadaywheneverypotwillboilHarmoniousinonegreatTea-garden!
WewaitthesettingoftheDandy’sday，Beforethattime!——He’sfurbishinghisdress，-
HeWILLbereadyforit!——andIsay，Thatyonolddandyratamidthecress，-
Thankstohardlabour!-
Ifcleanlinessisnexttogodliness，Theoldfatfellow’sheaven’sneighbour!
Youteachmeafinelesson，myoldboy!
I’velookedonmysuperiorsfartoolong，Andsmallhasbeenmyprofitasmyjoy。
You’vedonetherightwhileI’vedenouncedthewrong。
Prospermelater!
LikeyouIwilldespisethesniggeringthrong，AndpleasemyselfandmyCreator。
I’llbringthelinendraperandhiswifeSomedaytoseeyou；takingoffmyhat。
Shouldtheyaskwhy，I’llanswer：inmylifeIneverfoundsotrueademocrat。
BaseoccupationCan’trobyouofyourownesteem，oldrat!
I’llpreachyoutotheBritishnation。
Shouldthylovedie；
Oburyitnotunderice-blueeyes!
Andlipsthatdeny，Withascornfulsurprise，Thelifeitonceledinthybreastwhenitworenodisguise。
Shouldthylovedie；
Oburyitwherethesweetwild-flowersblow!
Andbreezesgoby，Withnowhisperofwoe；
Andstrangefeetcannotguessoftheanguishthatslumbersbelow。
Shouldthylovedie；
Owanderoncemoretothehauntofthebee!
WherethefoliagedskyIsmostsacredtosee，Andthybeingfirstfeltitswildbirthlikeawind-wakenedtree。
Shouldthylovedie；
Odissembleit!smile!lettherosehidethethorn!
Whilethelarksingsonhigh，Andnothinglooksforlorn，Buryit，buryit，buryitwhereitwasborn。
TOALEX。SMITH，THE’GLASGOWPOET，’ONHISSONNETTO’FAME’
NotvainlydoththeearnestvoiceofmanCallforthethingthatishispuredesire!
Fameisthebirthrightofthelinglyre!
TonobleimpulseNatureputsnoban。
NorvainlytotheSphinxthyvoicewasraised!
Tho’allthygreatemotionslikeasea，Againstherstonyimmortality，Shatterthemselvesunheededandamazed。
Timemovesbehindherinablindeclipse：
YetifinhercoldeyestheendofallBesible，asonherlargeclosedlipsHangsdumbtheawfulriddleoftheearth；-
Shesees，andshemightspeak，sincethatwildcall，ThemightywarningofaPoet’sbirth。