In 1858 there was a Great Stink,
Much Sewage and Waste was the unfortunate link.
It stood in the Thames the whole Summer long,
With the Sun Baring down there was a bit of a Pong.
Effluent galore from the Rich and the Poor,
A deadly Miasma from Hells Closet door.
But let's give it it's dues to have the Cheek,
To tweak the Nose of the more Elite.
As it's Ghastly Shroud it did invade,
Those Hallowed Halls where Laws are made.
That Seat of Government where 'Gentlemen' reside,
A Stench those Members would never abide.
So to make life Bearable on the Debating Floor,
Some desperate measures came to the fore.
For it grew so bad in the Prevailing time,
They drenched the Curtains in Chloride of Lime.
And Mister Disraeli who was never a fool,
Spoke quite at length on the 'Stygian Pool'.
'We need some Action on the City's Woes',
'The Accumulating filth and the Plaque it Sows'.
'A decent System is what we need',
'If future Health is to be Guaranteed'.
So Joseph Bazalgette was given the Roll,
An Efficient System the ultimate Goal,
The Treatment of Waste that's Pleasing and Safe,
So that a disease like Cholara will quickly abate.
And by 75 all work complete,
With miles of Sewers of which to speak:
Two Pumping Stations a valuable aid,
An Adequate System thus being laid.
In the Present day it still functions strong,
A Victorian Saviour of London's Wrong.
But the Irony is, and this mark well,
When once all Government was choked by the Smell,
The Effluent now flows the other way,
A result of Sins the People say.
Their Behaviour most foul to shame the land,
A trait that Stains this Merry Band.
So it Ebbs and Flows throughout the Halls -
And a Putrid Stench spills out their Walls.
-
Author:
Kevin Hulme (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: May 18th, 2026 18:56
- Comment from author about the poem: It's worthy of note that Bazalgette's Great Great Grandson: Sir Peter Bazalgette is a TV Producer. One of his Programmes is 'Big Brother'. So it's good to know that the Bazalgettes still deal in Sewage.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 12
- Users favorite of this poem: Doggerel Dave, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments7
A fun narrative poem with good rhyme and historic value. I had heard this story before and it seems that government only does something when it benefits them. Well written
So true. Thank you for Reading.
You are most welcome
not all stink and sludge is amenable to the sewage systems and technology. Most stirring read 🙏🕊️
Your not wrong. Thank you for Reading and your Comment.
Most welcome, dear friend 🙏🏻🕊️
Thanks, Kevin. In poetic terms a monumental effort rich in detail about an amazing engineering feat. They might have tunnelled – I tunnelled down several rabbit holes. I had vaguely heard of the great stink, but now I know considerably more from your piece and where it lead. Thanks a bunch for the heads up on the Great Stink. Great Work.
Thanks. It was originally going to be a Epigram: but the whole Story was just to big. I don't think you decide the length of a Poem : The Poem does . Thanks for the Fave.
I really enjoyed the poem.
The cesspool infecting the world.
The Government are infighting as I Write.
Thank you for Reading and your Comment.
Good write K.
Longer than I wished. But a Poem decides that , not me. Thanks for Reading.
You’ve taken history and made it smell like it still walks the halls—sharp, vivid, and uncomfortably alive.
There’s grit in how the old stink becomes a mirror, and the mirror doesn’t let anyone off easy.
Your not Wrong . Glad you enjoyed it.
Kevin, this was both wonderfully informative and wonderfully biting, my friend. The historical detail gives the satire real weight, and the ending lands because it feels like history repeating itself through a different kind of filth. I especially appreciated the balance between humor and genuine social commentary throughout. Excellent write.
Also…the Great Stink and the Erfurt latrine disaster together really do prove that history’s greatest enemy has often been catastrophic sewage management. Somewhere in medieval Europe a monk was absolutely writing, “Your Grace…the bishops/dignitaries have fallen into the poop vault,” (or in this case, the River Thames) while trying not to laugh into his parchment. 🤣 Wonderful work as always, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thank you for your Comments. Appreciate it.
Glad you enjoyed it.
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