Comparing Mirror with At Grass At grass is a poem about retired horses. It explains that the horses are now relaxing in a field. They do not have to race as they once had to. They "stand at ease" The sibilance and alliteration in "summer by summer all stole away, the starting-gates, the crowds and cries" draws attention to how their lives have changed over time. The lines sound soft and wistful. This shows the …showed first 75 words of 476 total…

…showed last 75 words of 476 total…their ears like flies" show that the memories of the past would be painful, knowing that this doesn't happen anymore. Also, when it says "only the groom, and the groom's boy with bridles in the evening come", the word "only" suggests that the horses wish that it was like the past when many people used to come and they used to be photographed for the newspapers; now only two people come to take them home.