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.

-- Edwin Arlington Robinson

I finally got around to watching Grizzly Man, thanks to the library's new express dvd checkout for current releases. I understand this film was a real tragedy but solely for the reason the girlfriend died. Clearly Treadwell had some problems and harbored a death wish. Still... what the Sport's Guy calls the Unintentional Comedy Factor is through the roof. It is impossible not to laugh out loud somtimes during this film. If I didn't know it was real I would swear it was a mockumentary, a cross between The Life Aquatic and Best in Show, starring Owen Wilson. Werner Herzog's narration does not help deter this feeling "... Die landskape ist a metaphor for a schoul in turmoil..." It's a must see. I will have to watch this again sometime.

Also saw the Miranda July (Junebug) , Me and You and Everyone We Know... uber-quirky and strange and which approaches some uncomfortable areas, but as someone pointed out it never ventures over into Happiness territory.

The poem above is another from the 100 Modern Poems book that I have been perusing. Not familiar with author but apparently he also toiled in obscurity (Does anyone ever toil in renown?) in a customs house like Melville before being 'discovered' by Teddy Roosevelt. Not sure how many other poets can trace their success to Presidential favor. Even Frost was familiar before being tapped as top bard by JFK.

I also have to second El Duderino's recommendation for Freakonomics, definitely fodder for discussion and a quick intruiging read.