When Do We Inherit Them

William Meredith

When do we inherit them, .
Cromwell, Lincoln, Matthew Arnold?
When the unengaged mind claims and climbs,
Preens old robes, and tries strange titles on
Before and after something common given,
Or reads incongruously of the projectile places?

No, but in objection shouting what they meant


Or in exertion sweating with their sweat,
No noticed intonation or gesture-
Derivative perhaps, but in modern dress,
And even then, no real descent, no chrysalis,
But sudden brothers rather, and competitors.