when you are old analysis

 "When You Are Old" is a poem written by William Butler Yeats. It reflects on love, regret, and the passage of time. Here's a stanza-wise analysis:

Stanza 1:

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;

• In the opening stanza, Yeats addresses the future, envisioning a time when the subject of the poem is old and at rest. The speaker suggests that the person will be "full of sleep," implying a peaceful and restful old age. The act of taking down a book suggests reminiscence and reflection. The mention of the "soft look" and "shadows deep" alludes to the person's youthful appearance and the profound emotions that once existed.

Stanza 2:

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;

Yeats reflects on the subject's past, acknowledging that many people loved the person for their physical beauty. The speaker distinguishes this person from others by claiming that only one man loved the "pilgrim soul" within – a deeper, more enduring aspect of the individual. The reference to "sorrows of your changing face" acknowledges the inevitable aging process, and the true lover accepts and loves the person despite these changes.

Stanza 3:

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.

The speaker imagines the elderly person sitting by a fire, contemplating the past. The reference to Love fleeing and hiding among the stars suggests that the intensity of love experienced in youth has diminished or transformed over time. The imagery of Love pacing on the mountains creates a sense of distance and unattainability.

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Stanza 4:

And in your deep eyes' azure, I have read The saddest love story ever been told, A man's heart with his own heart co-mingled.

The speaker reflects on having read the "saddest love story" in the person's eyes. The phrase "a man's heart with his own heart co-mingled" suggests a profound connection where two hearts become one, yet it's tinged with a sense of sadness.

Stanza 5:

'Tis no wonder that ye should be cold, Considering your great passion was so brief. A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds;

The speaker addresses the person's current emotional state, describing it as "cold." The reference to a "great passion" being brief indicates that the intense emotions experienced in youth did not last. The concluding lines suggest that these emotions were like a fleeting and spontaneous burst of joy that led to turbulence and complexity.

Conclusion: Yeats' "When You Are Old" is a poignant exploration of love's evolution over time, from the fleeting passions of youth to the enduring connections that transcend physical beauty. The poem encourages contemplation on the nature of true love and the inevitability of aging, adding a layer of melancholy to the beauty of reminiscence.