When You are Old
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When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
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And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
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And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
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Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
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How many loved your moments of glad grace,
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And loved your beauty with love false or true,
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But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
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And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
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And bending down beside the glowing bars,
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Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
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And paced upon the mountains overhead
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And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
~~W. B. Yeats~~
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Did you notice that this poem begins
“When you are old,” not now that you are old?
Maybe he wants to catch her attention
while she is still young and hasn’t
suffered the pain of regret.
Ahhhh, regret is such a huge price
to pay for a poor choice.
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Have you ever been “nodding by the fire”
and “Murmur, a little sadly” because
you lost the person that
“loved the pilgrim soul in you”
or maybe you haven’t ever
experienced that kind of love?
Someone that loves you for the
real, the authentic, deep inside,
all facades torn down person
that hides in your soul.
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There are many that will love
“your moments of glad grace” or
in other words,
will love you while you are beautiful,
wealthy or powerful.
Is it worth casting aside the
people who truly love you
and will continue to love you
when age shows the
“sorrows of your changing face”
and the experiences of a lifetime
show in your countenance?
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Just maybe,
by reading and understanding
this poem and the message within it,
you open your eyes
to the people,
nature,
and love that is freely offered
just for you…
Life can
offer something beautiful
and magical.
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Maybe your life will be filled
with
heartache,
hardships,
unhappiness,
stress,
and sadness.
But don’t hold it all in alone.
Share it with those who love you
and let them
love you.
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Just close your eyes
and think about it
for just a minute
and let the message
sink deep down
so that your mind
will consider the possibilities
and your heart
will appreciate true love
instead of giving in to
the whim of the moment
or the enticements of the insincere.
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Now,
what are you thinking?
In contemplation –
a woman Aging With Style
and striving to have fewer regrets,
P.S. Did you like the pictures?
All of them can be purchased!
very soft pretty pictures.
Wow. Amazing post. I can remember a moment just under three years ago. My (now fiance) and I had loved each other for over five years without ever even knowing that each other felt the same. I can remember that moment when I finally decided I couldn't watch him hurt, that I didn't want us to suffer alone and told him how I felt. To my surprise he felt the same. We had both been so scared that one another might not accept that one factor, even though we had always accepted each other no matter what else. Well, now it is about to have been three years and not only am I now in a new state with an amazing new life and with him as my fiance!!!! yeay! But I also have a book out! With coding:
The Thirteenth Chime was released early! My publisher asked me to post an extra special gift on my blog to all of my blogger friends and followers who have stuck by me and helped me spread the word and now I want to include you. I have stopped by your blog and feel a follower for a while and just love it! Thank you so much for your posts and YES the pictures are amazing! Great choices!
Thank you so much for your support and sticking by me through this amazing process!
Sincerely,
Emma Michaels
http://EmmaMichaels.Blogspot.com
http://emmamichaels.blogspot.com/2010/08/early-release-for-thirteenth-chime.html
That was deep! Love Yeats, thanks for posting the poem. I like how you broke it down.
And the pictures are nice, too.
My daughter, that was so beautiful, one of the prettiest and most moving post yet. It touched my heart. I have slowly made my way to my room. I have felt the weight of my own world on my shoulders lately. I am physically feeling poorly and you already know this. I have been reflecting also about love and how we all want that almost at any cost. We go into a relationship full of hope and dreams only to have someone drown them in selfishness and self love. As just a woman on your post I will share my deepest feelings. I have four beautiful females in my life. Each of them is at a different stage of life and each struggling with something or other. Mom is tired , she has run a race I think with the devil. Never has he ever given up on me, but love is Jesus Christ our beloved Savior and he will always be the winner. I , like you, like many of your post friends have chosen to be on his side. Stripped naked and of all earthly experiences and alone, this love is the one and most important of all. This love is what those who you share your life must have before we all can be happy. So when you have been used, knocked down, abused, and stripped of inner peace, we need to change. We need to step into the dark , cry out for the Lord and he will be there. I love you my child, I love your daughter as I love you. I love your sister and her beautiful daughter the same. If I have done nothing else, I have done this. I am proud of your progression, and I am proud of your ability to love so freely. I KNOW the Lord will bless you with that kind of love someday. good nite my child, my daughter, and always the wind beneath my wings.
mom
Beautiful post. I'm following you from blog frog. Hope to see you at http:inspirationsbyd.blogspot.com
Beautiful!
So beautiful.
I think too often we forget that we can share the hard times with those we love just as much as we can share the good times.
Thanks for the reminder.
I loved this poem, what you said about it and the feeling it gave me inside.
Everything is so meaningful to me, and in fact I felt tearful. Thank you
Summer Ross, thank you.
Emma Michaels, good luck on your new book and your new life! It sounds like you are so very happy.
theTsaritsa, Thanks. Yeah, a bit deep which is really how I was feeling.
TJ – now that was deep! I love you too Mom.
Simplegirl, I'm glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for the invite to your blog.
Kate, thanks.
Karen, Yep! I wonder why we feel that we sometimes have to present our lives as being something they are not? It's the same thing when someone asks, "How are you?" and what is the response we give…usually, "Fine!" even if our world is falling apart. Ick!
Soft pictures with soft words. Growing old is not easy, facing loss, seeing your skin age, but I feel more secure and maybe that's the exchange.
This is such a beautiful post in every way. I loved the poem, theme, and what gorgeous pictures. Thanks for posting this.
Beautiful post with beautiful pictures. Thank you, I probably needed that right now!
I love the pictures you have chosen. They are so beautiful and go really well with the poem! Thanks for sharing!
What a lovely post. I loved all of it…..
I loved the poem and the photos..
I am getting older, i don't mind that at all…but ailing health is not good. YOUR HEART IS KIND AND LOVE SHINES FORTH. gOD BLESS YOU SO MUCH. hUGS
Beautiful post!
This is just what I needed today! I have to reach out and hug you and thank you for sharing this with me as it will make me stronger! Thanks my sister in faith!