When London Calls
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| "When London Calls" | |
|---|---|
| by Victor Daley | |
| First published in | The Bulletin |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | 8 December 1900 |
| Lines | 56 |
| Full text | |
 When London Calls at Wikisource | |
"When London Calls" (1900) is a poem by Australian poet Victor Daley.[1]
It was originally published in The Bulletin on 8 December 1900,[2] and was subsequently reprinted in the author's single-author collections and a number of Australian poetry anthologies.[1]
The poet describes literary London as an "Ogress" who lures artists from far lands to come to England and to impress her. But she is never amused and strangles those who join her.
Meg Tasker, in Southerly, came to the conclusion that it was the poor London reception of his poetry collection At Dawn and Dusk that was the catalyst for this poem: "It is against this background of critical responses to his poetry that Daley produced 'When London Calls', his striking portrait of London as an ageing, bejeweled Sphinx luring the bright young talents of the world to their doom, offering gems but slaying the souls of those who do manage to please her."[3]
Tasker also notes Daley's poem was written as a part of an ongoing discussion in The Bulletin and The Bookfellow, both edited by Alfred Stephens, about the merits, or otherwise, of Australian literary figures travelling to London to work. "In a letter to A.G. Stephens, Daley suggested that it be published in April 1900 to coincide with Henry Lawson’s departure for London – a belligerent gesture perhaps, and one that was ignored; it was held over until December."[3]