Birmingham—1916

Once Athens worked and went to see the play, And Thomas Atkins kissed the girls of Rome, In council in Victoria Square to-day Are grey-beard Nazarenes, with shop and home And counting-house and all the friendly cares That Joseph knew; in Bull Ring markets meet Gossips as once at Babylonian fairs, And Helen walks in Corporation Street.

Now Troy is Homer; and of Nazareth Grave histories are of one love that was strong; Athens is beauty; Rome an immortal death; And Babylon immortal in a song.... Perplexed as ours these cities were of old; And shall our name greatly as these be told?