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Help finding a poem

Posted by White Owl on May 06, 2004

In Reply to: Help finding a poem posted by DeeBug on May 06, 2004

: I'm looking for a poem I read in my 10th grade English class . It was not by a famous poet. I don't know the name of the poet who wrote the poem. It was in a High School English magazine that the class subscribed to. I don't know the name of the magazine (though I really wish I did). I memorized most of the poem and so I can recite some of the verses below. If anyone has heard of this poem, knows the rest of the verses I would very much like to have it. Here it is:

: When you are old and beautiful
: and things most difficult are done
: there will be few who can recall
: your face as it is ravaged now
: by youth and its oppressive work

: Your look will hold their wondering looks
: Brave as Cordelia at the last
: with neither rancor at the past
: nor to upbraid the coming time
: For you will be at peace with time

: But now a daily warfare
: takes its toll of tenderness in you...

I don't recall that one but can I offer you this one by W. B. Yeats.

When You are Old
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 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.

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