SLEEPERS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Within Westminster Abbey, which stands on Thorney Isle
Are burled many people of every age and style.
There's Edward the Confessor, who founded this great church
And Henry Third who sent his men to Italy to search
For beautiful mosaics which brilliantly would shine
All round about and high above the great Confessor's shrine.
Here great Shaftesbury's buried, who worked to his life's end
For poor down trodden children whose rights he did defend.
Sir Isaac Newton, very wise, who thought he was a child
Picking up the sea-shells beside life's ocean wild.
And noble Sir James Outram known as a man most brave,
Who at the siege of Lucknow the English corps did save.
Great Livingstone of world-wide fame who Africa explored
And whose sad death in Afric wilds by all men was deplored;
The blind postmaster Fawcett who tried so hard to mend
All foolish laws of England and English rights defend.
A monument we here may see to Sir John Franklin bold
Who lost his life while he explored in far off Arctic
cold.
Within the poet's corner full many a grave is found,
Behold good Geoffrey Chaucer as Father Poet crowned,
And great and good Lord Tennyson whose "CROSSING OF THE BAR"
It seems to me in Heaven above should win a shining star.
Will Shagspur's monument is here, where he is called the chief
Of all the greatest writers known, though I call him a thief
Because I think he stole his rhymes from many learned men
And then pretended all were writ just by his goose quill pen.
Great Handel the musician, born in a German town
But who in merry England won all his great renown;
The orator George Canning, a statesman good and great
And with whose son, Earl Canning, he lies in regal state.
Here's Gladstone, greatest statesman perhaps the world has known
Who's buried in this abbey 'neath monumental stone.
Great Wilberforce and two great Pitts who likewise won their fame
Within this ancient abbey we see each brilliant name.
And many kings both good and bad and with their royal wives
Were brought to this old abbey when they had spent their lives.
Strong Edward First, the warrior who brought the "Stone of Scone"
And placed it in the abbey to crown the KINGS alone.
Then Richard Second who is known as "The Westminster King"
So called as in the abbey he did most everything;
For he was crowned and married and also buried here—
No wonder that the abbey stones to him were very dear.
To "Madcap Harry," Henry Fifth, Westminster was his pride
So he was buried 'neath its walls—though in far France he died.
King Henry Seventh and his wife Elizabeth the kind,
Close, side by side, their royal tombs we easily may find.
Queen Mary called "The Bloody," with Bess "The Virgin Queen,"
Beside Queen Mary of the Scots, their tombs may now be seen.
It was at Mary's funeral when she was lying dead
That in the abbey Catholic mass for a last time was said.
King Henry Fifth the murdered King and Edward Sixth the boy,
Who while he lived no sorrow gave but brought to England joy,
And many other kings and queens and men of wondrous fame
Both good and bad their bodies lie in restful sleep the same.