The street lamps glow, the shadows fall,
And people hurry to and fro;
Yet underneath it all,
The heart of the city beats slow.
The carriage wheels, the clatter of feet,
The shop-bell’s jingle, the children’s cry;
All mingle in the evening heat,
Beneath the vast and clouded sky.
And still, in alleys dim and deep,
Where life goes on without a pause,
The city breathes in dreamful sleep,
And keeps its quiet, steadfast laws.