Reading: When You Are Old by W. B. Yeats

When You Are Old

by William Butler Yeats

When you are old and gray 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 will 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.

Here are important words and phrases from the poem. Try to guess the meaning first, then check the definitions.

Nodding
Letting your head fall forward, especially when you are tired or falling asleep.

"The old man was nodding off in his chair by the fire."
Glad grace
A joyful, elegant, and pleasing quality or charm.

"Her glad grace made everyone happy to be around her."
Pilgrim soul
A person's inner self or spirit that is always searching or on a journey. It suggests a deep, spiritual, and questing nature.

"She had a pilgrim soul, always seeking new experiences and knowledge."
Sorrow
A feeling of deep sadness or distress.

"He felt a great sorrow after losing his best friend."
Glowing bars
The heated, bright red metal parts of a fireplace or stove.

"The cat curled up close to the glowing bars of the fireplace."
Murmur
To speak or say something in a low, quiet voice.

"She would murmur a little prayer before she went to bed."
Paced upon
Walked or moved back and forth over a surface. In this poem, it's a poetic way of saying "moved or walked."

"The lonely wolf paced upon the hill, looking for its pack."

Answer these questions about the poem "When You Are Old."