When You Are Old

W. B. Yeats' "When You Are Old" is a poignant poem addressed to a young woman whom the poet loved deeply. The poem uses a unique temporal shift, asking the beloved to project herself into the future. He tells her to imagine herself "old and gray and full of sleep," sitting and nodding by the fire. He instructs her to take down "this book" of his poems and read it slowly, dreaming of the "soft look" her eyes once had in her youth.

The poet draws a sharp distinction between his love and the love of others. He acknowledges that in her youth, "many" were attracted to her "moments of glad grace". These people loved her "beauty with love false or true," often focusing only on her social elegance and physical charm. However, the poet highlights his own devotion as being unique. He asserts that he was the "one man" who loved the "pilgrim soul" in her. The term "pilgrim soul" suggests a soul that is on a spiritual journey or a quest for true meaning. He further claims that he loved the "sorrows of your changing face," meaning he loved her through her hardships and the inevitable process of aging that would drive others away.

The final stanza describes the regret the woman will feel. As she bends down beside the "glowing bars" of the fireplace, she will "murmur, a little sadly," about how Love has fled. The poet personifies Love, saying it "paced upon the mountains overhead" and "hid his face amid a crowd of stars". This imagery suggests that once the chance for such a spiritual and rare love is missed, it becomes distant and unattainable, like the stars in the night sky. The poem serves as a reminder that physical beauty is transient, but the love of the soul is permanent.