What does 'O tempora! O mores!' mean?

It's a Latin phrase from the Roman orator Cicero that translates to "Oh the times! Oh the customs!" Cicero originally used it to denounce significant political corruption. Field takes this phrase to humorously lament about fancy food, creating a joke by applying the most dramatic language to a rather trivial complaint.

What are the 'Green Mountains' the speaker mentions?

The Green Mountains are located in Vermont. This reference places the speaker's childhood in rural New England, a region in the 19th century known for its emphasis on simple living, hard work, and traditional American values. It captures the essence of everything wholesome and down-to-earth.

Why does the speaker reject Dutch, Swiss, and French cheese?

Because they’re foreign and trendy. The speaker prefers straightforward American cheese made from “true-blue milk”—where “true-blue” signifies loyalty and authenticity. Imported cheeses embody the same kind of snobbery as the elaborate desserts and oysters he dismisses earlier in the poem.

What does 'De gustibus non disputandum est' mean, and why does Field use it?

It's a Latin proverb that translates to "there is no disputing about taste" — in other words, everyone has their own preferences. Field references it in the last stanza to express that he won't waste his breath arguing with those who enjoy gourmet meals. It's also humorous since the entire poem has essentially been a lengthy debate about taste.

Is this poem meant to be taken seriously?

Not completely a joke, but not entirely serious either. Field uses mock-heroic language and the ridiculousness of treating pie as a religious cause to get some laughs. However, the fourth stanza about his mother and wife Julia feels genuinely heartfelt, and the poem's main idea—that home cooking brings us closer to those we love—is sincere.

What is the poem's rhyme scheme and meter?

Each stanza has an ABABCDCD rhyme scheme, where alternating lines rhyme, and the meter is about iambic trimeter — featuring short, lively lines with three stressed beats. This quick, upbeat rhythm fits the comic tone perfectly and makes the poem feel like a cheerful song or toast.

Who is Julia in the poem?

Julia is the speaker's wife. When he tastes her apple pie, it brings back memories of his mother and his childhood in Vermont, which forms the emotional heart of the poem. The mention of her having "Yankee ways" suggests that she embodies his straightforward, traditional values — she represents a living link to what his mother stood for.

The Annotated Edition

APPLE-PIE AND CHEESE by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~4 minOpen reading mode →

A man proudly expresses his loyal and humorous attachment to two classic American foods — apple pie and cheese — standing firm against trendy foreign cuisines or fleeting fads.

Poet: Eugene Field
Themes: family, home, identity

The PoemFull text

APPLE-PIE AND CHEESE

Eugene Field

Full many a sinful notion Conceived of foreign powers Has come across the ocean To harm this land of ours; And heresies called fashions Have modesty effaced, And baleful, morbid passions Corrupt our native taste. O tempora! O mores! What profanations these That seek to dim the glories Of apple-pie and cheese! I'm glad my education Enables me to stand Against the vile temptation Held out on every hand; Eschewing all the tittles With vanity replete, I'm loyal to the victuals Our grandsires used to eat! I'm glad I've got three willing boys To hang around and tease Their mother for the filling joys Of apple-pie and cheese! Your flavored creams and ices And your dainty angel-food Are mighty fine devices To regale the dainty dude; Your terrapin and oysters, With wine to wash 'em down, Are just the thing for roisters When painting of the town; No flippant, sugared notion Shall _my_ appetite appease, Or bate my soul's devotion To apple-pie and cheese! The pie my Julia makes me (God bless her Yankee ways!) On memory's pinions takes me To dear Green Mountain days; And seems like I see Mother Lean on the window-sill, A-handin' me and brother What she knows 'll keep us still; And these feelings are so grateful, Says I, "Julia, if you please, I'll take another plateful Of that apple-pie and cheese!" And cheese! No alien it, sir, That's brought across the sea,-- No Dutch antique, nor Switzer, Nor glutinous de Brie; There's nothing I abhor so As mawmets of this ilk-- Give _me_ the harmless morceau That's made of true-blue milk! No matter what conditions Dyspeptic come to feaze, The best of all physicians Is apple-pie and cheese! Though ribalds may decry 'em, For these twin boons we stand, Partaking thrice per diem Of their fulness out of hand; No enervating fashion Shall cheat us of our right To gratify our passion With a mouthful at a bite! We'll cut it square or bias, Or any way we please, And faith shall justify us When we carve our pie and cheese! De gustibus, 't is stated, Non disputandum est. Which meaneth, when translated, That all is for the best. So let the foolish choose 'em The vapid sweets of sin, I will not disabuse 'em Of the heresy they're in; But I, when I undress me Each night, upon my knees Will ask the Lord to bless me With apple-pie and cheese!

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A man proudly expresses his loyal and humorous attachment to two classic American foods — apple pie and cheese — standing firm against trendy foreign cuisines or fleeting fads. He connects these foods to his childhood, his mother, his wife Julia, and his three sons, transforming a simple snack into a reflection of his lifestyle. The poem joyfully celebrates straightforward home cooking while playfully positioning itself as a patriotic defense against pretentiousness.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

Full many a sinful notion / Conceived of foreign powers
Editor's note
Field opens with a dramatic alarm, framing foreign culinary influences as a real moral danger to America. The Latin phrase *O tempora! O mores!* ("Oh the times! Oh the customs!") — taken from Cicero — is intentionally exaggerated, using the language of political outrage for something as mundane as food. The humor lies in the speaker's earnestness about his pie and cheese.
I'm glad my education / Enables me to stand
Editor's note
The speaker gives himself a pat on the back for resisting temptation once more, using the language of moral virtue, and then introduces his three sons, who "hang around and tease" their mother for apple pie and cheese. This cozy domestic scene cuts through any lingering pomp; it’s not a grand political speech but a moment in a family kitchen.
Your flavored creams and ices / And your dainty angel-food
Editor's note
Here Field lists the rival foods: fancy desserts, terrapin, oysters, and wine. These items belong to the world of the wealthy and fashionable — "dainty dudes" and "roisters" enjoying a night out. In contrast, the speaker’s apple pie and cheese feel more democratic, straightforward, and hearty. The use of "flippant" to describe sugary foods adds a humorous twist.
The pie my Julia makes me / (God bless her Yankee ways!)
Editor's note
This part of the poem really hits home emotionally. The aroma and flavor of Julia's pie transport the speaker back to Vermont, the "Green Mountain" state, where he remembers his mother giving pie to him and his brother to quiet them down. Food acts like a time machine, bridging the gap between adulthood and childhood with just one bite. The dialect — "'ll keep us still," "a-handin'" — adds a warm, authentic touch to the tone.
And cheese! No alien it, sir, / That's brought across the sea
Editor's note
The speaker shifts focus to cheese, dismissing Dutch, Swiss, and French Brie in favor of straightforward American cheese crafted from "true-blue milk." He uses the term "mawmets," an old-fashioned word for idols or puppets, as a fussy jab at fancy imported cheeses, enhancing the humor. The stanza concludes with the bold assertion that apple pie and cheese are the ultimate remedy for indigestion.
Though ribalds may decry 'em, / For these twin boons we stand
Editor's note
The speaker shifts from "I" to "we," transforming his personal preference into a shared belief. Eating apple pie and cheese three times a day (*thrice per diem*) is presented as a right that deserves protection. The phrase "faith shall justify us" draws on Protestant theological language, elevating the simple act of cutting a pie to the level of a religious conviction.
De gustibus, 't is stated, / Non disputandum est.
Editor's note
The Latin phrase *de gustibus non est disputandum* translates to "there is no disputing about taste." Field offers a lighthearted twist by translating it as "all is for the best." The speaker uses this phrase to dismiss the trendy crowd—let them enjoy their gourmet food; he won’t engage in arguments. The poem wraps up with the speaker kneeling in prayer each night, asking God for apple pie and cheese, creating a conclusion that is both wonderfully absurd and genuinely heartfelt.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

Warm, humorous, and mock-heroic throughout, Field clearly enjoys himself—he consistently opts for the most extravagant language (Ciceronian Latin, theological terms, patriotic rhetoric) to describe the simplest food imaginable. Yet beneath the humor, there's real emotion: the fourth stanza about his mother and Julia is heartfelt without veering into sentimentality. The overall impression is that of a man who recognizes his absurdity and doesn't mind at all.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Apple pie and cheese: The main symbol of the poem embodies American simplicity, warmth of home, and a sense of continuity through generations. They reflect everything the speaker cherishes: simplicity, honesty, and the idea of home.
Foreign foods (Brie, terrapin, oysters, ices): These reflect a culture that is trendy, affluent, and ethically questionable — everything the speaker's down-to-earth values stand against. They're linked to "dudes," "roisters," and what they call "fashions."
The Green Mountains / Mother at the window-sill: A memory image that represents childhood, Vermont, and the roots of the speaker's tastes and values. The mother passing pie through the window embodies simple love and nourishment.
Kneeling in prayer: The closing image of the speaker praying for apple pie and cheese each night serves as a humorous symbol of devotion. At the same time, it subtly links domestic happiness with true gratitude and faith.
Latin phrases (O tempora! De gustibus...): Field employs classical quotations as comedic devices. They indicate that the speaker is knowledgeable about the grand tradition and happily ready to squander it in support of pie.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field wrote this poem in the 1880s or early 1890s, during a time when Americans were concerned about European sophistication overshadowing local values. Wealthy citizens were embracing French cuisine, European wines, and continental manners, sparking a real cultural debate over whether this was a sign of progress or a form of corruption. Field, a Chicago newspaper columnist famous for his humorous and sentimental writing, tapped into a widespread longing for the simpler, rural life of New England. The poem's mentions of Vermont's Green Mountains, Yankee cooking, and plain American cheese firmly celebrate the everyday against the pretentious. Known for his children's poetry as well, Field captures a sense of domestic warmth here — with the three boys, his wife Julia, and his remembered mother — reflecting his enduring interest in family life as a true source of value.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

On the surface, it’s a humorous take on why the speaker loves apple pie and cheese. But it goes deeper, touching on nostalgia, the comforts of home, and the belief that simple, familiar things hold more value than trendy or pricey options. The food symbolizes a range of values related to family, memory, and the essence of American simplicity.

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APPLE-PIE AND CHEESE by Eugene Field

APPLE-PIE AND CHEESE

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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