'In Tempore Senectutis' by Ernest Dowson
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When I am old,
And sadly steal apart,
Into the dark and cold,
Friend of my heart!
Remember, if you can,
Not him who lingers, but that other man,
Who loved and sang, and had a beating heart, --
When I am old!
When I am old,
And all Love's ancient fire
Be tremulous and cold:
My soul's desire!
Remember, if you may,
Nothing of you and me but yesterday,
When heart on heart we bid the years conspire
To make us old.
When I am old,
And every star above
Be pitiless and cold:
My life's one love!
Forbid me not to go:
Remember nought of us but long ago,
And not at last, how love and pity strove
When I grew old!
Editor 1 Interpretation
In Tempore Senectutis: A Haunting Exploration of Aging and Mortality
As I sit down to analyze Ernest Dowson's classic poem, "In Tempore Senectutis," I can't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the sheer beauty and melancholic depth of this work. There's something incredibly haunting about the way Dowson explores the theme of aging and mortality in this poem, and his exploration of these themes is both insightful and deeply moving.
At its core, "In Tempore Senectutis" is a meditation on the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitability of death. The poem is written from the perspective of an aging speaker who is reflecting on his life and the passage of time. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the realization that his youthful vigor and vitality have faded away, leaving him with nothing but memories and the knowledge that his time on Earth is limited.
One of the most striking things about this poem is the way that Dowson uses language to create a sense of foreboding and unease. The opening lines of the poem, "When the world was in the springtime, / And the flowers in the spray," are deceptively cheerful, evoking images of youth and vitality. But as the poem progresses, the tone becomes increasingly somber, with the speaker lamenting the loss of his youth and the inevitability of his own death.
One of the most powerful images in the poem comes towards the end, when the speaker describes himself as "a tree that once was green / And whispers now 'I am old.'" This metaphorical description of the speaker as a tree that has withered and aged is incredibly poignant, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the transience of life and the inevitability of decay.
But even as the poem grapples with the sadness and inevitability of aging and death, there's also a sense of acceptance and even resignation. The speaker seems to recognize that his time on Earth is limited, but rather than railing against this fact, he simply acknowledges it and continues on with his life. In a sense, there's something almost comforting about the way that Dowson portrays the inevitability of death in this poem - it's a reminder that we're all in this together, and that we can find solace in the knowledge that we're not alone in our mortality.
Overall, "In Tempore Senectutis" is a haunting and beautifully crafted exploration of the themes of aging and mortality. While the poem is undeniably somber, there's also a sense of acceptance and even peace that comes through in Dowson's writing. In a world where our mortality is often something that we try to ignore or avoid, this poem serves as a reminder that death is an inevitable part of life, and that we can find meaning and beauty in the knowledge that our time on Earth is limited.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
In Tempore Senectutis: A Timeless Poem of Reflection and Regret
Ernest Dowson's poem, In Tempore Senectutis, is a hauntingly beautiful reflection on the inevitability of aging and the regrets that come with it. Written in 1896, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of growing old and looking back on a life lived. In just eight short stanzas, Dowson captures the essence of what it means to age and the bittersweet emotions that come with it.
The title of the poem, In Tempore Senectutis, is Latin for "in the time of old age." This sets the tone for the entire piece, as Dowson immediately establishes the theme of aging and the passage of time. The first stanza begins with the lines, "When I am old and grey and full of sleep, / And nodding by the fire, take down this book." These lines immediately conjure up an image of an elderly person, sitting by the fire, lost in thought and reflection. The use of the word "nodding" suggests a weariness and a sense of resignation, as if the speaker has come to accept their age and the limitations that come with it.
The second stanza continues this theme of reflection, as the speaker looks back on their life and the choices they have made. The lines, "And slowly read, and dream of the soft look / Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep," suggest a longing for a time gone by, a time when the speaker was young and full of hope. The use of the word "dream" implies that these memories are not just a recollection of the past, but a wistful desire to return to a time when things were simpler and more carefree.
The third stanza introduces the idea of regret, as the speaker laments the things they did not do in their youth. The lines, "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," suggest that the speaker feels they missed out on something important in their life. The use of the word "pilgrim" implies a sense of wanderlust and a desire for adventure, something the speaker feels they did not pursue in their youth.
The fourth stanza continues this theme of regret, as the speaker reflects on the passing of time and the things they have lost. The lines, "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," suggest a sense of loss and a longing for something that can never be regained. The use of the word "sorrows" implies a sense of melancholy and a recognition that time has taken its toll.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of death, as the speaker contemplates their own mortality. The lines, "And one by one the nights between our separated cities are joined to the night that unites us," suggest a sense of finality and a recognition that death is inevitable. The use of the word "separated" implies a sense of distance and a recognition that death will separate the speaker from the people they love.
The sixth stanza continues this theme of death, as the speaker reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of aging. The lines, "And in the morning, when I wake, / And feel the coldness of the air, / And hear the bell tolling in the chapel tower," suggest a sense of finality and a recognition that time is running out. The use of the word "coldness" implies a sense of detachment and a recognition that the speaker is growing further and further away from the world they once knew.
The seventh stanza introduces the idea of legacy, as the speaker reflects on what they will leave behind when they are gone. The lines, "And think, this heart, all evil shed away, / A pulse in the eternal mind, no less / Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given," suggest a sense of continuity and a recognition that the speaker's legacy will live on after they are gone. The use of the word "eternal" implies a sense of timelessness and a recognition that the speaker's legacy will endure long after they are gone.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the image of an elderly person sitting by the fire, lost in thought and reflection. The lines, "And may there be no sadness of farewell, / When I embark; / For though from out our bourne of Time and Place / The flood may bear me far," suggest a sense of acceptance and a recognition that death is a natural part of life. The use of the word "flood" implies a sense of inevitability and a recognition that death will come for us all.
In Tempore Senectutis is a timeless poem that speaks to the universal human experience of growing old and looking back on a life lived. Dowson's use of language is both beautiful and haunting, capturing the bittersweet emotions that come with aging and the passage of time. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of the time we have. It is a call to live life to the fullest, to pursue our dreams and passions, and to leave a legacy that will endure long after we are gone.
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