Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Disease, Public Health, Pollution

    Written from the perspective of 'King Cholera', describes his westward journey from Russia, his anticipation of the hoards of victims, and the places where he will flourish, including the 'foetid dens', 'alleys where the sun ne'er smiled', 'yards, whose heaps of dust and bone / Breathe poison all around'. Notes that his favourite 'perfumes', 'music', and 'lieges' are 'oozing gas from opened trench', 'slow death-bell's muffled tones', and vestrymen respectively.