BSc BA ADP English Notes Poem Politics (W. B. Yeats) Reference Context Explanation

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Poem:

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 both 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.

Reference, Context and Explanation:

Lines 1-4: How can I ... politics?

How can I, that girl standing there,

My attention fix

On Roman or on Russian

Or on Spanish politics,

Reference: 

These lines have been taken from the poem "Politics" written by W. B. Yeats.

Context: 

This is a sweet little poem that tells us about the importance of love over politics and war. The poet wishes to leave the discussion of politics and war in order to go to the girl standing at a distance and love her.

Explanation:

The poet tells us in these lines that he cannot fix his attention on the political situation of a country such as Russia or Rome or Spain because there is a girl standing nearby and she is more charming that the petty world-politics.

Lines 5-10: Yet there's ... war's alarms.

Yet here’s a travelled man that knows

What he talks about,

And there’s a politician

That has both read and thought,

And maybe what they say is true

Of war and war’s alarms,

Reference: 

These lines have been taken from the poem "Politics" written by W. B. Yeats.

Context: 

This is a sweet little poem that tells us about the importance of love over politics and war. The poet wishes to leave the discussion of politics and war in order to go to the girl standing at a distance and love her.

Explanation:

The poet tells us in these lines about a traveller who has seen a large number of countries and knows much about the world. Such a traveller is talking with the poet. The poet is also listening to the political discussion of a politician who has read and thought well. There is a discussion going on about war and war's danger and the poet knows that whatever the politician is telling them may be correct.

Lines 11-12: But O ... my arms!

But O that I were young again

And held her in my arms.

Reference: 

These lines have been taken from the poem "Politics" written by W. B. Yeats.

Context: 

This is a sweet little poem that tells us about the importance of love over politics and war. The poet wishes to leave the discussion of politics and war in order to go to the girl standing at a distance and love her.

Explanation:

The poet tells us that he wishes to be young again so that he may be able to leave all the politics and embrace the girl standing at a little distance and enjoy the blessings of love!