London lost and London found

above and below the teeming ground

where worshippers and young bucks too

lived out their daily aspirations

and lower delights

to the call of bells

or the lure of nights,

overlooked by the leering lanes

where God's ideals flowed down the drains.

 

Brick Lane, Drury Lane, Love Lane all remain

others merged or built upon

as Bear Lane, Lewknors Lane;  Turnagain Lane

(demolished for Holborn Viaduct) -

where "a lame woman with a knef

kylled a proper man

in fifteen sixty and was hanged."

 

Many such alleys still may claim

in no small measure historical fame

for those who lived and died within

and resonate to the name

of London;  in Abchurch Lane

was Pontacks, the first French

eating house in the town;

in Nicholas Lane first appeared

the emblem of three gold purses to signify

the pawnbrokers' shops.

In Ivy Lane was the Humdrum club

at which were held silent meetings.

 

In Cock Lane courtesans

were banned within the walls

by Edward the first to keep the peace;

Marylebone Lane once led to the village

of Tyburn where many lives ended

on the scaffold, drawn by cart from Newgate

now home to the bus and taxi rush

at self satisfied Marble Arch.

 

Such are the stories of the lanes

with many more besides,

but London being a restless soul

moves on with London tides.