Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LAMENTATION OF THE OLD PENSIONER (1) by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

Poet Analysis

First Line: I HAD A CHAIR AT EVERY HEARTH
Last Line: AND THE FRET LIES ON ME.
Subject(s): OLD AGE; RETIREMENT;
I had a chair at every hearth,
When no one turned to see,
With "Look at that old fellow there,
"And who may he be?"
And therefore do I wander now,
And the fret lies on me.

The road-side trees keep murmuring
Ah, wherefore murmur ye,
As in the old days long gone by,
Green oak and poplar tree?
The well-known faces are all gone
And the fret lies on me.



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