An Acre of Grass

An Acre of Grass --------      by W.B. Yeats {1865-1939}

  The poem  is included in Yeats’ Last Poems. The design of the first half of Last poems is exceptionally clear’ Objective philosophical poem-The Gyres and Lapis Lazuli set up the theme of tragic joy. Following these , a set of five personal lyrics locates tragic joy in Yeats and his friends.An Acre of Grass is the first of the five personal lyrics. It is one of the Yeats' most representative poem expresses the weaknesses & problems of old age. He is old and his physical vigour has ebbed. Old age is silent and dark. It finds rest in quiet, pictures and books  afford some relief to him. His mind rests in the limited sphere of activities. He can not work himself to high desires.

The poem is highly significant in its content and expressions. The theme is expressed in symbols and images. Old age offers an acre of green grass to the poet for rest and quiet.---

      ‘’Picture and book remain

       An acre of green grass

       For air and exercise,

      Now strength of body goes:

      Midnight an old house

     Where nothing stirs but a mouse.

The poet has arrived at his old age. He finds rest in books and pictures and in the limited sphere of life. An acre of green grass provides him quiet and exercise of mind. An old age is compared to midnight and to an old house where only mouse moves. It is lonely and dark.

       ‘’My temptation is quiet,

         Here at life’s end

         Nor the mill of the mind…’’

In old age, temptation is quiet. There is no rage of passion. Imagination becomes ‘’loose’’ and flesh is consumed by the movement of the mind. It suggests the weariness and quietness of old age.

The poet seeks the madness of an old man to remake himself. He will be passionate like Timon and mad like Lear or a mystic like Blake to find out the reality.

He wants to have penetrating mind of Michael Angelo to know the mysteries of life and death.

        ‘’A mind Michael Angelo knew

          That can pierce the clouds,

          Or inspired by Frenzy 

          Shake the dead in their shrouds;

          Forgotten else by mankind,

          An old age's eagle mind.''