I turned 65 last year, and think often about where I've been and where I'm going. William Butler Yeats thought about it, too ...
When You Are Old
by William Butler Yeats
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.
Have a good day. Remember the good times, and plan to make the times to come good as well. Voting would be a good start.
More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
That poem is outstanding!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad; but a great poem. Yeats may have been the greatest English language poet of the twentieth century.
ReplyDeleteYou've introduced me to another fine poem. I'll turn 60 this year so there's a deeper understanding.
ReplyDelete