Introduction: “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge was first published sometime between 1823 and 1832, the exact year being a matter of some debate. It appeared in his collection “Poems,” a volume that showcased Coleridge’s mastery of various poetic styles and explored themes that would become hallmarks of Romanticism, including the power of nature, the beauty and loss of youth, and the search for meaning in life. The poem itself is a poignant meditation on the passage of time, contrasting the vibrancy and optimism of youth with the introspection and physical limitations of age.
Text: “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Verse, a breeze mid blossoms straying,
Where Hope clung feeding, like a bee—
Both were mine! Life went a-maying
With Nature, Hope, and Poesy,
When I was young!
When I was young?—Ah, woful When!
Ah! for the change ‘twixt Now and Then!
This breathing house not built with hands,
This body that does me grievous wrong,
O’er aery cliffs and glittering sands,
How lightly then it flashed along:—
Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore,
On winding lakes and rivers wide,
That ask no aid of sail or oar,
That fear no spite of wind or tide!
Nought cared this body for wind or weather
When Youth and I lived in’t together.
Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like;
Friendship is a sheltering tree;
O! the joys, that came down shower-like,
Of Friendship, Love, and Liberty,
Ere I was old!
Ere I was old? Ah woeful Ere,
Which tells me, Youth’s no longer here!
O Youth! for years so many and sweet,
‘Tis known, that Thou and I were one,
I’ll think it but a fond conceit—
It cannot be that Thou art gone!
Thy vesper-bell hath not yet toll’d:—
And thou wert aye a masker bold!
What strange disguise hast now put on,
To make believe, that thou are gone?
I see these locks in silvery slips,
This drooping gait, this altered size:
But Spring-tide blossoms on thy lips,
And tears take sunshine from thine eyes!
Life is but thought: so think I will
That Youth and I are house-mates still.
Dew-drops are the gems of morning,
But the tears of mournful eve!
Where no hope is, life’s a warning
That only serves to make us grieve,
When we are old:
That only serves to make us grieve
With oft and tedious taking-leave,
Like some poor nigh-related guest,
That may not rudely be dismist;
Yet hath outstay’d his welcome while,
And tells the jest without the smile.
Annotations: “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Stanza | Annotation |
| Verse, a breeze mid blossoms straying, Where Hope clung feeding, like a bee— Both were mine! Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young! | The speaker nostalgically recalls the carefree nature of youth, symbolized by a gentle breeze among blossoms, where hope flourished. They reminisce about a time filled with vitality, nature, hope, and poetry. |
| When I was young?—Ah, woful When! Ah! for the change ‘twixt Now and Then! This breathing house not built with hands, This body that does me grievous wrong, O’er aery cliffs and glittering sands, How lightly then it flashed along:— | The speaker expresses sorrow over the passage of time and the transformation from youth to age. They lament the limitations and betrayals of the aging body, contrasting it with the once carefree and agile nature of youth. |
| Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore, On winding lakes and rivers wide, That ask no aid of sail or oar, That fear no spite of wind or tide! Nought cared this body for wind or weather When Youth and I lived in’t together. | Youth is likened to a small boat effortlessly navigating through life’s challenges. The speaker reflects on the fearlessness and resilience of youth, where the body seemed unaffected by external forces. |
| Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like; Friendship is a sheltering tree; O! the joys, that came down shower-like, Of Friendship, Love, and Liberty, Ere I was old! | The speaker celebrates the beauty of youth and the joys it brings, comparing them to flowers, love, and the shelter of friendship. They fondly recall the abundance of happiness and freedom experienced in youth. |
| Ere I was old? Ah woeful Ere, Which tells me, Youth’s no longer here! O Youth! for years so many and sweet, ‘Tis known, that Thou and I were one, I’ll think it but a fond conceit— It cannot be that Thou art gone! | The speaker laments the loss of youth, refusing to fully accept its departure. They reminisce about the unity and sweetness of their relationship with youth, expressing disbelief at its absence. |
| Thy vesper-bell hath not yet toll’d:— And thou wert aye a masker bold! What strange disguise hast now put on, To make believe, that thou are gone? I see these locks in silvery slips, This drooping gait, this altered size: | The speaker questions the apparent disappearance of youth, suggesting that it may still be present in disguise. They observe the physical signs of aging but perceive a lingering vitality in the midst of change. |
| But Spring-tide blossoms on thy lips, And tears take sunshine from thine eyes! Life is but thought: so think I will That Youth and I are house-mates still. | Despite the effects of aging, the speaker perceives a youthful essence within themselves. They reflect on the transient nature of life, maintaining a mental connection to their youth, viewing them as enduring companions. |
| Dew-drops are the gems of morning, But the tears of mournful eve! Where no hope is, life’s a warning That only serves to make us grieve, When we are old: | The speaker contrasts the purity of youth with the sorrow of aging, where life becomes a warning in the absence of hope. They acknowledge the grief that accompanies old age, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Device | Example from “Youth and Age” | Explanation |
| Allusion | “Life went a-maying” (alluding to the tradition of celebrating May 1st) | Reference to a person, place, event, or work of art to create a richer meaning |
| Amplification | “O! the joys, that came down shower-like” (emphasizing the abundance of joys) | Extending a detail or idea to emphasize its significance |
| Analogy | “Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like” (comparing love to a flower) | Comparing two things to explain a concept |
| Anaphora | “Ah! for the change…”, “Ah woeful When!”, “Ah woeful Ere” (repeating “Ah” at the start of successive clauses) | Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses |
| Aphorism | “Life is but thought: so think I will” (a general truth) | A short, witty statement expressing a general truth |
| Assonance | “sheltering tree”, “silvery slips” | Repetition of vowel sounds for a musical effect |
| Enjambment | “When I was young?—Ah, woful When! / Ah! for the change ‘twixt Now and Then!” (sentence continues into the next line without punctuation) | Carrying a sentence or phrase over to the next line without a pause |
| Hyperbole | “O! the joys, that came down shower-like” (exaggerating the abundance of joys) | Exaggeration for emphasis or effect |
| Imagery | “breathing house not built with hands”, “Spring-tide blossoms on thy lips” (vividly describing a scene) | Language that creates vivid sensory experiences for the reader |
| Irony | “Youth’s no longer here!” (contrasting the expected meaning) | Conveying a meaning that is opposite of what is explicitly stated |
| Juxtaposition | “Youth and Age” (comparing two contrasting ideas) | Placing two or more elements or ideas side by side to compare or contrast them |
| Metaphor | “Life is but thought” (comparing life to a thought) | Comparing two things without “like” or “as” |
| Meter | The poem follows a consistent iambic tetrameter rhythm | A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line |
| Onomatopoeia | (none in this poem) | Words that imitate the sounds they describe |
| Oxymoron | (none in this poem) | Combining two words that are opposite in meaning |
| Personification | “Hope clung feeding, like a bee” (giving hope human-like qualities) | Attributing human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities |
| Repetition | “When I was young”, “Ah! woeful When!”, “Ah! woeful Ere” (repeating phrases for emphasis) | Repeating words or phrases for emphasis or effect |
| Rhyme | “bliss” and “kiss”, “wide” and “tide” (ending sounds of words that match) | Words with identical ending sounds |
| Simile | “Hope clung feeding, like a bee” (comparing hope to a bee using “like”) | Comparing two things using “like” or “as” |
| Symbolism | “Fountains, full of life and bliss” (fountains representing abundance and joy) | Using objects, colors, or other elements to represent abstract ideas or concepts |
Themes: “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Youth and Old Age: The poem is a lamentation of the passing of the poet’s youth and his reluctant acceptance of old age. The poet compares the joys and freedom of his youth with the helplessness and sadness of his old age. In his youth, the poet was full of life and energy, “Life went a-maying / With Nature, Hope, and Poesy” (lines 3-4), but now he feels old and weak, “This breathing house not built with hands, / This body that does me grievous wrong” (lines 5-6). The poet longs for his youth and regrets the passing of time, “When I was young?—Ah, woful When! / Ah! for the change ‘twixt Now and Then!” (lines 1-2).
- Nature: The poem portrays the poet’s attraction to nature in his youth and his disconnection from it in old age. The poet describes his youth as a time when he was strong and active and could climb high peaks and run on sandy beaches, “O’er aery cliffs and glittering sands, / How lightly then it flashed along” (lines 9-10). In contrast, in his old age, he feels disconnected from nature and can no longer enjoy its beauty, “Nought cared this body for wind or weather / When Youth and I lived in’t together” (lines 11-12). The poet’s relationship with nature reflects his own growth and decay.
- Hope and Hopelessness: The poem shows the poet’s hope and optimism in his youth and his hopelessness and despair in old age. The poet describes how he used to be full of love, joy, and liberty in his youth, “Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like; / Friendship is a sheltering tree” (lines 13-14), but now he feels weak and helpless, “When I was old? Ah woeful Ere, / Which tells me, Youth’s no longer here!” (lines 17-18). The poet’s hope and optimism have been replaced with despair and hopelessness.
- Memory and Nostalgia: The poem expresses the poet’s nostalgia for his youth and his memories of the past. The poet remembers his youth as a time when he could write poetry and enjoy the company of nature, “Dew-drops are the gems of morning, / But the tears of mournful eve!” (lines 25-26). He also remembers the joys of friendship, love, and liberty that he had in abundance when he was young, “O! the joys, that came down shower-like, / Of Friendship, Love, and Liberty” (lines 19-20). The poet is nostalgic for the passing of his youth and the loss of his creative energy, “Life is but thought: so think I will / That Youth and I are house-mates still” (lines 27-28). The poem is a nostalgic reflection on the passing of youth and the fleeting nature of life.
Literary Theories and Interpretations of “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Biographical Interpretation: This approach examines how the poet’s own life experiences might have influenced the poem. Coleridge struggled with various personal and physical afflictions throughout his life, including addiction and illness. “Youth and Age” could reflect his own feelings of nostalgia for his youth and lamentation for the changes brought about by aging. For example, lines such as “This body that does me grievous wrong” and “What strange disguise hast now put on” may allude to Coleridge’s physical ailments and the sense of betrayal he felt from his own body.
- Romanticism: Viewing the poem through the lens of Romanticism highlights its emphasis on nature, emotion, and the passage of time. Coleridge, as a prominent Romantic poet, often explored themes related to nature’s beauty, the passage of time, and the power of imagination. In “Youth and Age,” nature is depicted as a source of joy and freedom in youth, but also as a reminder of mortality and loss in old age. For instance, the imagery of “Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like” and “Dew-drops are the gems of morning” evokes the Romantic fascination with nature’s beauty and its fleeting nature.
- Psychoanalytic Criticism: Applying psychoanalytic theory to the poem involves examining the speaker’s psyche and unconscious motivations. The poem can be seen as a reflection of the speaker’s internal struggle to come to terms with aging and the loss of youth. The repeated questioning and denial of aging (“Ere I was old?” and “It cannot be that Thou art gone!”) suggest a psychological resistance to accepting the passage of time. Additionally, the personification of youth as a “masker bold” and the refusal to acknowledge its departure may indicate a subconscious defense mechanism to cope with mortality and the fear of death.
Critical Questions about “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Question | Answer |
| How does the poem portray the contrast between youth and age? | The poem portrays the stark contrast between youth and age through the speaker’s nostalgic and melancholic tone. In youth, the speaker was vibrant and full of vitality, “Life went a-maying / With Nature, Hope, and Poesy” (lines 3-4), while in age, the speaker feels burdened by frailty and weakness, lamenting, “This breathing house not built with hands, / This body that does me grievous wrong” (lines 5-6). The speaker yearns for the vigor of youth and mourns the relentless passage of time, “When I was young?—Ah, woful When! / Ah! for the change ‘twixt Now and Then!” (lines 1-2). |
| How does the poem use nature imagery to convey the speaker’s emotions? | The poem employs vivid nature imagery to convey the speaker’s emotions and illustrate his connection with the natural world. In youth, the speaker’s vitality is echoed in nature’s beauty, “O’er aery cliffs and glittering sands, / How lightly then it flashed along” (lines 9-10), whereas in age, the speaker feels estranged from nature, lamenting, “Nought cared this body for wind or weather / When Youth and I lived in’t together” (lines 11-12). The speaker’s relationship with nature serves as a mirror to his own growth and decline. |
| How does the poem explore the theme of hope and hopelessness? | The poem delves into the theme of hope and hopelessness by contrasting the speaker’s experiences in youth and age. In youth, the speaker exudes hope and optimism, celebrating, “Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like; / Friendship is a sheltering tree” (lines 13-14), but in age, the speaker is enveloped in despair, lamenting, “When I was old? Ah woeful Ere, / Which tells me, Youth’s no longer here!” (lines 17-18). The speaker’s youthful hopefulness has given way to desolation and hopelessness. |
| How does the poem use memory and nostalgia to convey the speaker’s emotions? | The poem utilizes memory and nostalgia to convey the speaker’s emotions and express his longing for days gone by. The speaker reminisces about the joy and creativity of youth, musing, “Dew-drops are the gems of morning, / But the tears of mournful eve!” (lines 25-26), and nostalgically imagines a continued companionship with youth, reflecting, “Life is but thought: so think I will / That Youth and I are house-mates still” (lines 27-28). The speaker’s wistful nostalgia underscores his regret and |
Literary Works Similar to “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats: This poem by John Keats explores the contrast between the fleeting beauty of youth and the enduring power of art. Like “Youth and Age,” it meditates on the transience of life and the longing for an idealized past.
- “When You Are Old” by W.B. Yeats: W.B. Yeats’s poem reflects on aging and lost love, addressing the passage of time and the regrets that come with it. It shares a similar melancholic tone with “Youth and Age” and explores the themes of nostalgia and longing for the past.
- “To Autumn” by John Keats: Another poem by Keats, “To Autumn,” celebrates the beauty of the season while also contemplating the passage of time and the inevitability of change. It shares with “Youth and Age” a focus on the cycles of nature and the fleeting nature of youth.
- “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot: T.S. Eliot’s modernist poem delves into the themes of aging, regret, and the fear of mortality. Like “Youth and Age,” it explores the disillusionment and existential angst that can accompany the process of growing older.
- “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” by William Wordsworth: Wordsworth’s poem reflects on the passage of time and the relationship between nature, memory, and the self. It shares with “Youth and Age” a contemplative tone and explores the theme of memory and its role in shaping our understanding of the past.
Suggested Readings: “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, et al. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985.
- Youngquist, Paul. “Rehabilitating Coleridge: Poetry, Philosophy, Excess.” ELH 66.4 (1999): 885-909.
- Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. The complete poetical works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: including poems and versions of poems now published for the first time. Vol. 1. Clarendon Press, 1912.
- Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. Poetical Works: Including Poems and Versions of Poems Herein Published for the First Time. H. Frowde, 1912.
Representative Quotations “Youth and Age” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Both were mine! Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young!” | Coleridge reminisces about the vitality of youth, deeply connected to nature and creativity. | Romanticism – Celebrates youth as a time of innocence and inspiration, intertwining human experience with the natural world. |
| “O’er aery cliffs and glittering sands, How lightly then it flashed along:— Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore, On winding lakes and rivers wide…” | Coleridge vividly recalls the freedom and agility of youth, unburdened by age. | Embodiment – Highlights the youthful body as a vessel of experience, agile and effortless in navigating life’s challenges. |
| “O Youth! for years so many and sweet, ‘Tis known, that Thou and I were one, I’ll think it but a fond conceit— It cannot be that Thou art gone!” | Coleridge refuses to accept the loss of youth, clinging to its enduring presence within himself. | Identity Continuity – Reflects the psychological defense mechanism of denial, maintaining a sense of selfhood despite aging. |
| “Life is but thought: so think I will That Youth and I are house-mates still.” | Coleridge equates youth with a state of mind, defying the inevitability of physical aging. | Phenomenalism – Suggests reality is constructed through subjective perception, allowing for the subjective experience of youthfulness despite age. |
| “Where no hope is, life’s a warning That only serves to make us grieve, When we are old: That only serves to make us grieve…” | Coleridge reflects on the melancholy reality of old age, where hope diminishes and life becomes burdensome. | Existentialism – Emphasizes the struggle to find meaning in the face of mortality, confronting the limitations of human existence in old age. |