Politics by William Butler Yeats
Analysis
"Politics" is a poem written by William Butler Yeats. In this poem, Yeats speaks of how there is a young woman studying and he finds her attractive. However, he believes he is too old for her, so instead of going over there and holding her in his arms he daydreams about it. The line before the beginning of the poem by Mann is simply a way to tell us that people use politics to discuss every day activities. Therefore, Yeats does the same thing Mann states.
"Politics" is a poem of only one stanza with twelve lines in total. It is not rhymed and the syllables and meter structure changes from line to line.
Poem
Politics 'In our time the destiny of man presents its meanings in political terms' - Thomas Mann How can I, that girl standing there, My attention fix On Roman or on Russian Or on Spanish politics? Yet here's a travelled man that knows What he talks about, And there's a politician That has read and thought, And maybe what they say is true Of war and war's alarms, But O that I were young again And held her in my arms.
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