The Wild Old Wicked Man by W.B Yeats - Explanation - Summary
The poem "The Wild Old Wicked Man" is written by William Butler Yeats, a famous 20th-century Modern poet. The poem deals with the lust of an old man who despite his old body, is eager to sleep with a woman.
The old wicked man says that he is crazy about both woman and hills, unusual interests for a senior citizen. He has hard times residing at home because he fears dying on the "straw at home", that's why he travels where God takes him. He wants the other person i.e. a lady, with whom he is conversing, to live with him until his death and asks her to close his eyes upon his death. This is his only wish to be granted from the "old man in the skies" i.e. God.
He praises the lady and tells her to not refuse him "what he wants". he tells her that nobody knows about the exact time of an old man's demise. He admits that he is no more young and hence doesn't flaunt youthful features. He complains that the young man loves too much. He boasts of him by saying that a young man can just touch a woman's heart whereas he can pierce her heart with words only.
The lady says to the wild old man who holds his "stout stick" for support, that it is not in her command to give love or refuse. She further adds that she has conferred all her material rights to God and she can't close his eyes with her hands because her hands would be busy counting beads of a rosary (praying). The lady is a devout lady, probably a nun for she turned down his offer.
Hearing her words, he angrily rejects her too and intends to find another woman to meet his demands. He says that girls living on the seashore are different than the lady. They are quite open and talks and dances in a sensuous manner with fishermen. During the night, they spent time with them.
He reveals that in dark, he becomes a wild young man but when in the light he is a wild old man who is very fragile. But he claims that he possesses something which is hidden from young men.
The old man emphasizes that all people are destined to suffer in their lives whether they choose one path over other or they stay where they are. To support his views, he gives instances of a boat-rower, a weaver a horseman and a child in the womb of a mother.
He admits that the Godly miracles from the sky can eliminate all human sufferings and no sane person can deny receiving a gift from divine power. But he confesses that being a crazy old wicked man, in spite of choosing the divine gift, he would seek sexual pleasure from a woman.
The old wicked man says that he is crazy about both woman and hills, unusual interests for a senior citizen. He has hard times residing at home because he fears dying on the "straw at home", that's why he travels where God takes him. He wants the other person i.e. a lady, with whom he is conversing, to live with him until his death and asks her to close his eyes upon his death. This is his only wish to be granted from the "old man in the skies" i.e. God.
He praises the lady and tells her to not refuse him "what he wants". he tells her that nobody knows about the exact time of an old man's demise. He admits that he is no more young and hence doesn't flaunt youthful features. He complains that the young man loves too much. He boasts of him by saying that a young man can just touch a woman's heart whereas he can pierce her heart with words only.
The lady says to the wild old man who holds his "stout stick" for support, that it is not in her command to give love or refuse. She further adds that she has conferred all her material rights to God and she can't close his eyes with her hands because her hands would be busy counting beads of a rosary (praying). The lady is a devout lady, probably a nun for she turned down his offer.
Hearing her words, he angrily rejects her too and intends to find another woman to meet his demands. He says that girls living on the seashore are different than the lady. They are quite open and talks and dances in a sensuous manner with fishermen. During the night, they spent time with them.
He reveals that in dark, he becomes a wild young man but when in the light he is a wild old man who is very fragile. But he claims that he possesses something which is hidden from young men.
The old man emphasizes that all people are destined to suffer in their lives whether they choose one path over other or they stay where they are. To support his views, he gives instances of a boat-rower, a weaver a horseman and a child in the womb of a mother.
He admits that the Godly miracles from the sky can eliminate all human sufferings and no sane person can deny receiving a gift from divine power. But he confesses that being a crazy old wicked man, in spite of choosing the divine gift, he would seek sexual pleasure from a woman.