Miniver Cheevy

    Miniver Cheevy， child of scorn，

    Grew lean while he assailed¹ 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 prancing²；

    The vision of a warrior³ bold

    Would set him dancing.

    Miniver sighed for what was not，

    And dreamed， and rested from his labors⁴；

    He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot，

    And Priam's neighbors.

    Miniver mourned the ripe renown⁵

    That made so many a name so fragrant⁶；

    He mourned Romance， now on the town，

    And Art， a vagrant⁷.

    Miniver loved the Medici，

    Albeit⁸ he had never seen one；

    He would have sinned incessantly⁹

    Could he have been one.

    Miniver cursed the commonplace

    And eyed a khaki suit with loathing¹⁰；

    He missed the medi？val 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