229 Miniver Cheevy 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 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, Miniver Cheevy, born too late, Scratched his head and kept on thinking; Miniver coughed, and called it fate, And kept on drinking. Edwin Arlington Robinson. Wan-two! Wan-two! Ye monkey-faced divil, I'll jolly ye through! Wan-two! Time! Mark! Ye march like the aigle in Cintheral Parrk!" Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: To dhrill such a mug! Eyes front!-ye baboon, ye! Chin up!-ye gossoon, ye! Ye've jaws like a goat Halt! ye leather-lipped loon, ye! Wan-two! Ye whiskered orang-outang, I'll fix you! Wan-two! Time! Mark! Ye've eyes like a bat!-can ye see in the dark?" Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: The Recruit 231 Yer shins is as thin As a pair of pen-holders! Wan-two! Wan-two! Yer belly belongs on yer back, ye Jew! Wan-two! Time! Mark! I'm dhry as a dog-I can't shpake but I bark!" Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: "Me heart it ud gladden Ye're gettin' too bold, ye Will ye heed what I told ye? Wan-two! Wan-two! Be jabers, I'm dhryer than Brian Boru! Wan-two! Time! Mark! What's wur-ruk for chickens is sport for the lark!" Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden : "I'll not stay a gaddin', Wid dagoes like you! Come on, if ye like, Can ye loan me a quather? Ya-as, you- And ye'll pay the potheen? Ye're a daisy! Whurroo! You'll do! Whist! Mark! The Rigiment's flattered to own ye, me spark!" Robert W. Chambers. OFFICER BRADY THE MODERN RECRUIT I SEZ Alderman Grady Luk here what ye've done: "Way up in Tammany Hall They's a gintleman layin' f'r ou! 'An' what,' sez he, 't' 'ell,' sez he, 'Does the villyun mane to do? Lock up the ass in his shtall! He'll rue the day I rue, F'r he's pulled the dive that kapes me alive, An' he'll go to the goats! Whurroo!"" II Sez Alderman Grady To Officer Brady: "Ye pinched young Mullady F'r crackin' a safe! An' Sinitor Moran Is inside, a-roarin' F'r justice, ye thafe! "'Way up in Tammany Hall They's a gintleman layin' f'r you! 'What's this,' sez he, 'I hear?' sez heAn' the air, bedad, grew blue! Officer Brady 'Well, I nivver did hear av such gall! But if phwat ye say is thrue, He's pulled a fri'nd av a fri'nd av me fri'nd, III Sez Alderman Grady She lifted a locket From Casey's coat pocket, 233 ""Way up in Tammany Hall They's a gintleman layin' f'r you! "Tis a shame,' sez he, 'f'r to blame,' sez he, 'A lady so fair an' thrue, An' so divinely tall' 'Tis po'ms he talked, ye Jew! An' ye've cooked yer goose, an' now ye're loose IV Sez Alderman Grady To Officer Brady: "Where's Katie Macready, The Confidence Queen? She's niece to O'Lafferty's Steady colleen! ""Way up in Tammany Hall They's a gintleman layin' f'r you! 'He's pinched,' sez he, 'an' cinched,' sez he, 'A lady tray comme eel foo! |