Poem 7 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
When You Are Old by W. B. Yeats reflects on love, aging, and memory. In this poignant poem, Yeats imagines an older lover reading from a book of memories, reflecting on the beauty of youth and the deep love once shared.
W. B. Yeats (1865–1939) was one of the leading poets of the 20th century and a key figure in the Romantic movement. When You Are Old remains one of his most cherished works.
When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
My Reflections on the Poem:
Recording When You Are Old was a powerful reminder of the passage of time and the beauty of love that endures beyond physical appearance. Yeats’ ability to capture the emotional depth of aging and longing speaks directly to the human experience.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
