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 set 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 mediæval 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.
Composition date is unknown - the above date represents the first publication date.
The lyrical form of this poem is abab.11.
Thebes:
Greek city on the Nile.
Camelot: the mythical city of King Arthur's court.12.
Priam: king of Troy, father of Aeneus (founder of Rome)and killed in the seven years' war with the Greek at Troy.17.
Medici: rulers of Renaissance Florence known forboth a love of scholarship and art, and a penchant fora pitiless use of power.22. a khaki suit: a military uniform, coloured yellow-brown.
