Old Street, October 2010
Just on my way to the Southbank Centre to the second night of this year's Poetry International Festival there. A lovely, sunny autumn day in London when I mostly slept, and have not been out at all yet. When I come back I'll try and post up a picture from Waterloo Bridge, if I can get a decent one.
In the meantime, here's a rainy picture from a few weeks ago, and – as an antidote to Wordsworth – some William Dunbar:
LONDON thou art of townes A per se.
Soveraign of cities, seemliest in sight,
Of high renoun, riches and royaltie;
Of lordis, barons, and many a goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis, in habitis clericall;
Of merchauntis full of substaunce and of myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.
Gladdith anon, thou lusty Troynovaunt,
Citie that some tyme cleped was New Troy;
In all the erth, imperiall as thou stant,
Pryncesse of townes, of pleasure and of joy,
A richer restith under no Christen roy;
For manly power, with craftis naturall,
Fourmeth none fairer sith the flode of Noy:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.
Most myghty carbuncle of vertue and valour;
Strong Troy in vigour and in strenuytie;
Of royall cities rose and geraflour;
Empress of townes, exalt in honour;
In beawtie beryng the crone imperiall;
Swete paradise precelling in pleasure;
London, thou art the flour of Cities all…
And here's one from this week:
St James' Park, October 2010