When You Are Old” by W. B. Yeats
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;
English Explanation:
In this stanza, the poet asks the woman to imagine herself as an old person, tired and sleepy, sitting by the fire. He tells her to take a book and read it slowly, recalling the soft and gentle look her eyes had when she was young and beautiful. The “shadows deep” refer to the depth and mystery in her eyes during her youth.
Hinglish Explanation:
Is stanza mein, kavi mahila se kehta hai ki woh apne aap ko ek bude insaan ke roop mein dekhein, jo thaki hui aur neend se bhari hui hai, aag ke paas baithi hui hai. Kavi usse kehta hai ki ek kitaab uthaye aur dheere-dheere padhein, yaad karein uske aankhon ki narmi aur sundarta jab woh jawan thi. “Shadows deep” ka matlab hai uski aankhon ki gehraai aur rahasya uske jawani ke dino mein.
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;
English Explanation:
In this stanza, the poet talks about how many people admired the woman’s grace and beauty in her youth. They loved her for different reasons, some true and some false. However, the poet emphasizes that only one man truly loved her inner self, her “pilgrim soul,” and loved her even as her face changed with time and sorrow.
Hinglish Explanation:
Is stanza mein, kavi kehta hai ki kai logon ne us mahila ki sundarta aur uski komalta ko jawani mein pasand kiya. Kuch logon ne sachche dil se aur kuch logon ne jhooti mohabbat ki. Lekin kavi zor dekar kehta hai ki sirf ek aadmi ne uske andar ke sachche roop ko pyar kiya, uski “pilgrim soul” ko, aur usse uske chehre ke badalne aur dukhon ke saath bhi pyar kiya.
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.
English Explanation:
In this stanza, the poet asks the woman to lean down by the fire and softly murmur, feeling a bit sad, about how Love left her. He describes Love as if it fled to the mountains and hid its face among the stars, signifying that true love is rare and elusive, often hidden and hard to find.
Hinglish Explanation:
Is stanza mein, kavi mahila se kehta hai ki woh aag ke paas jhuk kar, thoda udaasi ke saath, dheere se bole ki kaise Pyaar usse door chala gaya. Kavi Pyaar ko is tarah varnan karta hai jaise woh pahaadon par bhaag gaya aur sitaaron ke beech apna chehra chhupa liya, isse yeh dikhata hai ki saccha pyaar kitna durlabh aur mushkil se milne wala hota hai, aksar chhupa hota hai aur paana mushkil hota hai.
Questions AnswersÂ
1. How is the journey from youth to old age described in the poem?
In the poem “When You Are Old” by W. B. Yeats, the journey from youth to old age is described as a time when one moves from being young and full of life to becoming old and tired. The poet asks the woman to look back at her past when she was young, beautiful, and full of dreams, and then imagine herself as an old person, sitting by the fire, sleepy, and reflecting on her life.
 2. What does the phrase ‘full of sleep’ mean?
The phrase ‘full of sleep’ in the poem means being tired and weary, as an old person might feel. It suggests a state of rest and calmness that comes with old age, when one is no longer active and energetic like in their youth.
3. How is the poet’s love different from that of others?
The poet’s love is different from that of others because he loves the woman not just for her physical beauty but for her soul and inner qualities. While others loved her for her looks and charms, the poet loved her true self, the part of her that remains unchanged by time and age.
4. What is Maud Gonne reminded of in the poem?
In the poem, Maud Gonne is reminded of her youthful days when she was beautiful and admired by many. She is also reminded of the poet’s deep and sincere love for her, which was different from the superficial admiration she received from others.
5. ‘But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you’. Explain.
This line means that while many admired the woman’s beauty, only one man truly loved her inner self, her soul. The term ‘pilgrim soul’ suggests a journey or a quest, indicating that the poet loved her for her inner journey, her true self, and the deeper qualities that made her unique.
6. Write a short paragraph of 150-200 words on the emotions portrayed in the poem.
The poem “When You Are Old” by W. B. Yeats is rich with emotions that span the spectrum from nostalgia and longing to deep, soulful love. The poet evokes a sense of wistfulness as he asks the woman to reflect on her past beauty and the passage of time. There’s a feeling of melancholy in imagining her as an old woman, tired and full of sleep, contrasting with her youthful vibrancy. Amidst this, the poet’s love stands out as a beacon of purity and constancy. Unlike others who admired her for her external beauty, the poet’s love is portrayed as deep and enduring, focused on her inner self, her ‘pilgrim soul’. This love is unchanging and sincere, transcending the superficiality of physical appearance. The emotions in the poem are complex, blending sadness over lost youth with the profound joy of a love that appreciates the true essence of a person. Yeats masterfully captures the bittersweet nature of time and love, leaving readers with a poignant reflection on the enduring power of genuine affection.
7.What images does the poet use in the poem?
In “When You Are Old” by W. B. Yeats, the poet uses several vivid images to convey his message:
1. Old Woman Sitting by the Fire:The image of an old woman, sitting by the fire and feeling sleepy, evokes a sense of calm and reflection. This symbolizes the later years of life when one looks back on their youth.Â
2. Book of Memories: The poet asks the woman to take down a book and read it, which symbolizes reminiscing about past experiences and memories.
3. Soft, Shadowy Eyes: This image refers to the woman’s beauty and the admiration she received in her youth. The ‘soft look’ signifies her gentle and attractive appearance.
4. Pilgrim Soul: This metaphor represents the woman’s inner self, her journey through life, and the qualities that the poet deeply loved.
5. Glowing Bars:Lathe glowing bars of the fire suggest warmth and comfort, reinforcing the idea of old age being a time for quiet reflection and peace.
 Poetic Tools Used in “When You Are Old” by W. B. Yeats
1. Imagery
Details: Imagery involves creating vivid pictures in the reader’s mind through descriptive language.
Examples:
– “When you are old and grey and full of sleep” – evokes a visual image of an elderly person.
– “Nodding by the fire” – creates a warm, peaceful scene of old age.
2. Metaphor
Details: A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action as something else, indirectly comparing two unlike things.
Examples:
– “Pilgrim soul” – compares the woman’s inner self to a pilgrim on a journey, suggesting depth and a quest for meaning.
– “Hid his face amid a crowd of stars” – suggests love is elusive and distant, like stars in the sky.
3. Alliteration
Details: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close to each other.
Examples:
– “Glad grace” – repetition of the ‘g’ sound emphasizes the woman’s youthful beauty.
– “Loved the sorrows” – repetition of the ‘s’ sound draws attention to the poet’s enduring love despite sorrow.
4. Personification
Details: Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.
Examples:
– “Love fled” – gives love the human ability to flee, suggesting that love is something that can leave or escape.
– “Paced upon the mountains overhead” – gives love the human ability to move, emphasizing its distance and elusiveness.
5. Repetition
**Details:** Repetition is the repeated use of words or phrases to emphasize a point or theme.
Examples:
– “Loved” is repeated several times to emphasize the different kinds of love the woman received.
– “And loved the sorrows” – repetition of ‘loved’ underscores the depth and constancy of the poet’s love.
6. Symbolism
Details:Symbolism involves using symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal sense.
Examples:
– “Book” symbolizes memories and the past.
– “Fire” symbolizes warmth, comfort, and the passage of time.
7. Rhyme Scheme
Details:The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABBA in each stanza, creating a rhythmic and musical quality.
Examples:
– In the first stanza: “sleep” (A), “book” (B), “look” (B), “deep” (A).
8. Tone
Details: The tone is the attitude or feeling expressed in the poem.
Examples:
– The tone is reflective and wistful, as the poet looks back on youth and love with a sense of nostalgia and melancholy.
These poetic tools work together to enhance the emotional depth and lyrical quality of Yeats’s poem, making it a poignant reflection on love, aging, and memory.