When you grow old by William Butler Yeats

Echoes Beyond Ink

"When You Are Old" by W.B. Yeats is a poignant and introspective poem that reflects on love, aging, and regret. Written in the form of a dramatic monologue, the speaker addresses a future version of the beloved, imagining her as an old woman looking back on her life. The poem is structured in three quatrains, with a gentle and reflective tone that evokes a sense of melancholy.

The poem opens with the beloved being asked to read from a book when she is old and gray, reminiscing about her past. The first stanza sets the scene, focusing on the physical changes that come with age. The phrase "nodding by the fire" suggests a quiet, solitary moment of reflection. In the second stanza, the speaker contrasts the superficial admirers who loved the beloved for her beauty with the speaker's own deep, unwavering love for her "pilgrim soul"—a metaphor for her inner self, character, and spirit. This love transcends physical appearance and endures through time.

The final stanza shifts the tone to one of regret and loss. The speaker envisions the beloved's realization that she missed out on a love that was true and profound. The image of "Love fleeing" personifies love as something that was once close but is now distant, emphasizing the irreversible nature of the past.