When you are old and grey ... W. B. Yeats

The first time I read this poem was in 8th grade. And it was a beautiful translation in urdu done by late and dear Mr. Shafiq-ur-Rehman. Later after his death I found from an article that this was infact a translation of W. B. Yeats's poem.


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.

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http://voices.yahoo.com/analysis-wb-yeats-old-6949854.html

Analysis of W.B. Yeats' "When You Are Old'

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; (lines 1-4)

I believe the narrator is a man, who wrote this poem for his beloved to read after he died. His beloved is growing old, sitting next to the fire to keep warm (as you grow older your skin thins, and you are more susceptible to cold temperatures). He wants her to remember her youth; he wants her to remember the good times and the bad. People inevitably change over time, and he wants her to remember the innocence that she once had; how her youthful naivety filled her with unwavering hope for a wonderful future.

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; (5-8)

She was a great beauty that was loved by many when she was young; the boys were captivated by her charm, and youthful attitude. There was only one man that loved who she was on the inside; the others were merely attracted to her beauty. He loved her adventurous soul. He loved her during the good times and the bad; his love was unwavering.

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. (9-12)

He is looking down upon her from Heaven's glowing gates; he is sad that he had to leave her, but he leaves her this poem. He paces the heavenly mountains, eagerly awaits the time when they will be reunited. He hides his face in the stars, so that she can't see his pain.


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Another analysis i liked, dont remember from where i copied it

 "It is at the end of a mans life that he realizes how foolish he was at the beginning."

This poem is a true testament to the often ignorance of young/new love which in many cases may lead to its destruction. Old age is like the magnifying glasses of life. It is often in old age that you are left with the memories of both the mistakes and successes of your youth. We must look at life with the eyes of truth and realize that true love is a gift that should not be treated casually. Like any gift that is not taken in, it goes to the one who accepts it. This poem offers a warning to its readers to be observant to true love and what it can bring because love that is ignored and or not resriprocated can easily become a regret.