Poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Miniver Cheevy

MINIVER Cheevy, child of scorn,
    Grew lean while he assailed the seasons 
He wept that he was ever born,
    And he had reasons.

Miniver loved the days of old
    When swords were bright and steeds were prancing; 
The vision of a warrior bold
    Would send him dancing.

Miniver sighed for what was not,
    And dreamed, and rested from his labors; 
He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,
    And Priam's neighbors.

Miniver mourned the ripe renown
    That made so many a name so fragrant; 
He mourned Romance, now on the town,
    And Art, a vagrant.

Miniver loved the Medici,
    Albeit he had never seen one; 
He would have sinned incessantly
    Could he have been one.

Miniver cursed the commonplace
    And eyed a khaki suit with loathing: 
He missed the medieval grace
    Of iron clothing.

Miniver scorned the gold he sought,
    But sore annoyed was he without it; 
Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,
    And thought about it.

Miniver Cheevy, born too late,
    Scratched his head and kept on thinking; 
Miniver coughed, and called it fate,
    And kept on drinking.

1. Neighbors
2. Two Men
3. The Dead Village
4. Momus
5. Cliff Klingenhagen

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