THE WHITEFRIARGATE BRIDGE.

I stood on the bridge at midnight,

As "Travis" was striking the hour;

And the moon rose o'er the city

Aslant the Dock Co.'s tower.

II.

I stood and recalled how savage,

In the day that's just gone by,

I was stopped by that bridge at midday,

And watched it raised on high.

III.

For my heart was hot and restless,

My business full of care;

And the check thus put upon me

Seemed longer than I could bear.

IV.

And I thought how many thousands

Of work-encumbered men,

On hearing the bell a-ringing,

Have cursed this bridge since then.

I see the long procession

Still pacing to and fro—

The master, the clerk, the workman;

The Dockmen, officious and slow.

VI.

And forever, and forever,

As long as the Company goes,

As long as we brook the fashion

Of transit, and bow to our woes.

VII.

So long we shall lose our appointments,

So long by our spouses be told

That we're ten minutes late as usual,

And our dinner is getting cold.

The Whitefriargate Papers, Hull, February 17, 1872.