IN HIGHGATE CEMETERY

by: William Allingham (1824-1889)

ar-spread below doth London wear

Its cloud by day, its fire by night--

Yet scarce with heavenly presence there

Shrined in the smoke or pallid light.




Incessant troops from that vast throng

Withdraw to silent colonies;

Where houses, lo, are fair and strong,

Though ruins, all that dwell in these.




Yet, 'neath the universal sky,

Bright children here too run and sing,

Calm verdure waxes green and high,

And grave-side roses smell of Spring.




"In Highgate Cemetery" is reprinted from Poems. William Allingham. London: Chapman and Hall, 1850.

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