Nor grudged grim Death his toll of tears.

"What can a modern poet sing,

Describe, imagine or invent?

They've been before, they've tapped the spring,

They've laid their hands on everything,

Staked out the spacious firmament.

"Last week, a line that did me proud

Flashed on me, strolling down the Strand:—

'I wandered lonely as a cloud;'

Then conscience suddenly avowed