‘hen You e Old’ depicts the frustration and anxiety of a sincere 1ove At the same time, it also presents the concern of sincere love for the future predicament of his lady love. The lover’* frustration and anxiety for her future find expression only because his love is genuine and constant. Though she has not responded to his ‘love the lover does not want to give up his attempts to persuade her. He tries to place before her a realistic, projected picture of her future only because he knows that she will be old, infirm and companion less as years roll by.
Furthermore, the poet seems to understand that she is not a flirt and worldly lady who loves to indulge in pleasures of life but one who has also been looking for someone who really loves her inner self more than her physical charms. Only someone who has a similar state of mind, and beliefs, and who is also yearning for a spiritual union with his lady love alone can write so. From this, one can infer that true love is indestructible and constant. Had the speaker been interested in her physical charms only he would not have bothered to foresee his own future as well as the predicament of his lady love some twenty years hence. Thus it can be argued that the poem ‘When You Are Old’ conveys the message that true love is indestructible and constant and is not influenced by the vicissitudes of fortune.
