Author: Matthew Arnold

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    When I shall be divorced, some ten years hence,
    From this poor present self which I am now;
    When youth has done its tedious vain expense
    Of passions that for ever ebb and flow;
    Shall I not joy youths heats are left behind,
    And breathe more happy in an even clime?
    Ah no! for then I shall begin to find
    A thousand virtues in this hated time.
    Then I shall wish its agitations back,
    And all its thwarting currents of desire;
    Then I shall praise the heat which then I lack,
    And call this hurrying fever, generous fire,
    And sigh that one thing only has been lent
    To youth and age in common discontent

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Type of Poem: Sonnet

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a contemplation on the passage of time and the shifting perspectives on youth and age. It is richly imbued with a sense of nostalgia and regret, as well as a keen awareness of the transient nature of life. The poet begins by looking forward to a time when the passionate fires of youth have cooled, imagining a calmer existence. However, this anticipation shifts to a recognition of the virtues of youth and a yearning for its vitality and fervor.

The poem's structure and tone are reflective and introspective, using the first-person narrative to create a personal and intimate conversation with the reader. Key literary devices include the use of metaphor and personification to depict youth as a feverish, turbulent time, while age is represented as a more even and calm period. Yet, the poet underscores both stages of life with a common thread of discontent, highlighting the human tendency to idealize the past or the future at the expense of appreciating the present. Thus, the poem is a poignant reminder of the importance of embracing each phase of life with its unique virtues and challenges.