September 1913
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
September 1913 Full Poem
What need you, being come to sense,
But fumble in a greasy till
And add the halfpence to the pence
And prayer to shivering prayer, until
You have dried the marrow from the bone;
For men were born to pray and save:
Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone,
It’s with O’Leary in the grave.
Yet they were of a different kind,
The names that stilled your childish play,
They have gone about the world like wind,...
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September 1913 summary
Summary
Stanza 1 – Greedy Ireland and the Lost Soul: In this stanza, Yeats says that the people of modern Ireland are now running only after money. They “fumble in a greasy till,” meaning that collecting money has become the only purpose of their lives. They still pray, but their prayers are full of fear and selfishness. The poet says that they have dried out the true joy of life. There is no mo...
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September 1913 Theme
Themes
Idealism vs. Materialism: The central theme of the poem is the conflict between idealism and materialism. In this poem, Yeats strongly criticizes the people of modern Ireland, who are only concerned with money, business, and personal gain. They no longer understand the greatness or sacrifice of the old heroes. The poet sadly says, “Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone, / It’s with O’Leary in...
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September 1913 Quotations
Quotes
“Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone, / It’s with O’Leary in the grave.”
Explanation: Yeats mourns the loss of Ireland’s heroic and idealistic spirit. The Ireland of courage, poetry, and noble dreams has died with the old patriots like John O’Leary.
“Was it for this the wild geese spread / The grey wing upon every tide?”
Explanation: Yeats asks if Ireland’s patriots, called “the wild geese,”...
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