Rate-a-poem: Miniver Cheevy, by Edwin Arlington Robinson

[poetinahat]

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 mediaeval 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.

http://www.bartleby.com/267/145.html

[dahmnait]

Technically, the poem is well written, but it had a point against it from the beginning. I like poetry that flows, and this particular form has always felt choppy to me. I don't think that the repetition of words for the sake of rhyming helps.

I did find it interesting that when I read it aloud some of the verses flowed quite well, whereas others were stiff.

I suppose I will now have to play with this form and see if I can’t create a poem that flows.

Thanks for sharing. :)

[rugcat]

I don't venture into the poetry forums because you people scare me. But honestly, this is one of the great American poems of all time and one of my personal favorites.

I don't think "flow" was Robinson's goal; in fact, the wonderful structure and chopped last line of each stanza fits the subject perfectly.

[Magdalen]

I gave it four stars. I know one of my English teachers/profs read this aloud and I wish I could remember which one. BTW, I think there is some code to Miniver Cheevy, but the best I can come up with is: Even me, ivy rich

[P.H.Delarran]

I gave it a three. It really doesn't inspire me to think about it much beyond that.