When You Are Old - W. B. Yeats read by Cillian Murphy | Powerful Life Poetry

He could read to me forever...his whispers sound like heaven...

I keep wondering when old begins. I'm 70 next year and don't yet feel it. Physically, I have issues, but mentality I'm still 27 (with the sense of humour of a 13 year old).

My uncle died in his late 80s. During his final couple of weeks he was in hospital. He kept complaining to the nurses about all of the old men around him. Eventually, the nurses checked and the oldest of the "old" men were over 25 years younger than my uncle. Right up to the end he had a young outlook. I took my friend with me to the hospital, and he was amazed by my uncle.

He is still my role model.

The first time I read this as a 15 year-old, I felt very emotional. More than 50 years later I understand why. A beautiful read by Cillian ❤

Pesky blinders vicious criminals, but at lest they weren’t racist.

I found that leading up to and arriving at 67 years age is one thing and growing old is another. I cycle, hike, and enjoy all the things I have always done except I dont have to bath, feed or change my children's nappies just watch them mature into adults. I have more time and more freedom to as I please and thank god I have good health to enjoy this stage of my life.

I have medically worked with older patients for my career. Now that I am in that age group, I wish I had paid more attention to the lessons they shared. I don’t know what happened…seems that I was 35 years old last week…where does the time go…

The poem speaks of God. We are loved.

Yeats is our best poet by far and Jack his brother is our best painter. This is what the name Yeats has done for lreland ,and we love them both

Shake off the mantle of old age and live your life thru ,without the stiffness .

Old age is reprehensible AND no one but no one prepares you for what to expect! Indeed in many instances you feel invisible! In other instances you are treated as though you have half a brain! BUT you never ever relinquish your inner power ❣️ God bless

I am now 79, I’ve had a lifetime of ill health and pain. I’m now bedridden, use a wheelbarrow and I can’t walk, bend my knee and I have foot drop. I yearn for the yesterdays, dread the todays and I fear the tomorrows.

Ty

We need translation to Portuguese or Spanish.

Im the same age as Paris Black and Pamela Anderson. We are vibrant.

Yes to both oh you🥲🥲

Beautiful

I Don't need a man..

I don’t have words, I just have respect ……

Being old is being you. You don’t think yourself old. You just are ❤️

My favorite poem of all time. 💕💕💕

Oh rats! Let's for heaven's sake stop being so sentimental about old age. I'm 73 and have no intention of doddering around thinking lugubrious thoughts.
(Nice actor. Ghastly music. The poem doesn't need it)

Some works of art are gorgeous but fleeting, some stay within your heart & soul forever. This is one of them.

❤

Beautiful poem, beautifully read

❤ Thank you for sharing 🙏🌍

This is so beautiful. Oh what is hidden in among the stars. Wonder.

Lo, but if I only watch the path and observe those far in the distance, I shall not be suddenly be overtaken.

Love this. He should be a narrator for novels.

My favorite poem

Like so many before and since, man tries to outdo God, but you can’t, because God is God and man never shall be.

Beautifully read.

I have loved growing old. I worry less about pleasing people. No longer care about frivilous things. Im more secure in who I am and no longer care if other people like the real me or not. There is so much freedom in that. I care less about what is going on in the news and how the world is a morally falling apart. My world has become so much smaller and all i really care about now is family and a few close friends. My body may ne slowly falling apart. That part isnt much fun. My back hurts, my eyes are weak. I gwt around slowly but i am not in a hurry anyways. I look at you g people just atarting on their journey and think to my self thank God i am not young anymore.

❤ I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU ... but I try to be the best I can at any age ... I am lucky to be an elite athlete... but confidently humble ... Joseph told GOD he is comfortable on earth ... but would want something better ... something grand ... something soon ... do not get too comfortable here ... happily earth is the land of the dying ...the gargoyle loves GOD ... grow old with grace and give as you go ... SHALOHA

My goodness … let’s enjoy each day !

My mum’s favourite Irish poet ❤

great poetry is usually truth+bittersweet, happy and sad at the same time, which is also life after 30, you leave behind your completely happy moments and now everytime theres a happy moment hidden behind, theres a sad, unfixable recollection.

Come away , O human child! To the waters and the wild With a faery, hand in hand, For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand W. B. Yeats' The Stolen Child"

For two Sineads and their sons

Enchanting and beautiful❤

Wow that was beautiful 💝

Great actor - always like him and the poem is fine too.

I recall reading this in my early twenties. Its effect was immediate, and has been one of my most loved poems ever since.

To John Carson and others. A mind doesn't like poems if there's no lover no longing but the same man 👞👞👞👞👞♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️ droops in the poet's mastery .... if the loved one is back front or any way there but conquerd and it is dzire for a refilling that's a sigh❤ sign of growth of the ❤️ sigh that the ideal might have hidden between the words. Escaping man 👞👞👞♂️♂️♂️♂️♂️ him and found by the astounding poet.. here Yeats.

"It ain't over 'till it's over!" YB

When we're young we chase after time. When we're old time chases after us. And towards the end we discover it is quicker.

❤ Poetry of the soul

poetry is ghey

I read this poem in front of my class at school 53 years ago and this is the first time I’ve heard it since and mr Murphy was absolutely haunting reading it

Thank you, Mr. Murphy...the sound of your words resonate deeply.

Japan has a national holiday to celebrate the elders in society. Indigenous Indians of North America celebrate and revere their elderly. We as Americans don't do this enough. I appreciate and love all elders...you are the hidden gem not to be ignored but to be revered!! God bless you!