Darkness expectant, discreet <br />Only a lamp here and there, <br />Gloom in the clattering street, <br />Stygian black in the square; <br />Dazzling fascias and fronts, <br />Scintillant sky-scrapers banished, <br />Snuffed and shut down are the spangles of Town. <br />London has vanished. <br /> <br />Only a few months ago <br />London woke up every night; <br />Dances or 'Chemin' or Show, <br />Festival vistas of light. <br />Everywhere glitter and glare, <br />Junket and revelry keeping. <br />Yes, but despite the laughter and light, <br />London was sleeping. <br /> <br />Searchlights are probing the skies, <br />Eastward their streamers are trailed ; <br />Masked are the city's bright eyes <br />Even the tramcars are veiled. <br />Cockneys turn in at eleven, <br />'Stop Press' thirst finally slaked. <br />Turn the lights out. Now, without doubt, <br />London's awake!<br /><br />Jessie Pope<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lights-out-12/
