The Lamp Lighter is about a character seen around the City of London circa 1957 and before
Dusk is falling on London's square mile as from my office window I espy,
The lamplighter on his trusty bicycle with his long pole held up high,
Along the city roads, streets and avenues he pedals as the sunsets on the day,
He stops in a courtyard or a square or a dark uninviting alleyway.
Skilfully he wields his pole to-wards the lever of the lofty unlit gas lamplight,
With one deft flick the whole area is transformed with luminosity oh so bright,
Throgmorton Street, Copthall Avenue, Swan Alley all light up to his expertise,
A job the old man has done for year now carried out with dexterity and ease.
Onward to-wards the old lady of Threadneedle Street he illuminates each ornate lamp,
Oblivious to the ice-cold weather but enjoying not the on setting cramp,
The Royal Exchange then along Cornhill his circuit nearly done,
A multitude of lamps in Leadenhall Street and the Market he ignites them every one,
Progress dictated that all the gas lamps be replaced with the electric kind,
So the old man on his bicycle with pole held aloft I'm afraid you'll no more find.
