Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MICE, by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY


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MICE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Here's to the mice that scare the lions
Last Line: Gnawing away the thrones.
Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, Vachel
Subject(s): Mice; Nicholas Ii, Czar Of Russia (1868-1918); Socialism; William Ii, Kaiser Of Germany (1859-1941


(Written with the hope that the socialists might yet
dethrone Kaiser and Czar.)


Here's to the mice that scare the lions,
Creeping into their cages.
Here's to the fairy mice that bite
The elephants fat and wise:
Hidden in the hay-pile while the elephant thunder rages.
Here's to the scurrying, timid mice
Through whom the proud cause dies.

Here's to the seeming accident
When all is planned and working,
All the flywheels turning,
Not a vassal shirking.
Here's to the hidden tunneling thing
That brings the mountain's groans.
Here's to the midnight scamps that gnaw,
Gnawing away the thrones.






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