The Night City by W.S. Graham
Production and Sound Design by Kevin Seaman The Night City BY W. S. GRAHAM Unmet at Euston in a dream Of London under Turner’s steam Misting the iron gantries, I Found myself running away From Scotland into the golden city. I ran down Gray’s Inn Road and ran Till I was under a black bridge. This was me at nineteen Late at night arriving between The buildings of the City of London. And the I (O I have fallen down) Fell in my dream beside the Bank Of England’s wall to be, me With my money belt of Northern ice. I found Eliot and he said yes And sprang into a Holmes cab. Boswell passed me in the fog Going to visit Whistler who Was with John Donne who had just seen Paul Potts shouting on Soho Green. Midnight. I hear the moon Light chiming on St Paul’s. The City is empty. Night Watchmen are drinking their tea, The Fire had burnt out. The Plague’s pits had closed And gone into literature. Between the big buildings I sat like a flea crouched In the stopped works of a watch.
