W.H.Auden 'The City' (from 'The Quest')

In villages from which their childhood's came

Seeking Necessity, they had been taught

Necessity by nature is the same,

No matter how or by whom it be sought.

The city, though, assumed no such belief,

But welcomed each as if he came alone,

The nature of Necessity like grief

Exactly corresponding to his own.

And offered them so many, every one

Found some temptation fit to govern him;

And settled down to master the whole craft

Of being nobody; sat in the sun

During the lunch-hour round the fountain rim;

And watched the country kids arrive, and laughed.