YOUTH
AND AGE POETRY
BY
S.T. COLERIDGE
SUMMARY
The poem “Youth and Age” present a
contrast between the fascinating pleasures of youth and the cruel and crushing
facts of old age. Coleridge highlights the vigour and vitality that characterizes
youth and black – paints the consciousness of the futility of life that
accompanies old age. Striking metaphors, appropriate similes and images lend
poetic charm to an otherwise serious and philosophical theme. Nostalgic memories
haunt the poet at every step and he is time and again pushed and pulled between
“now and then”.
Coleridge remembers his youth when life
was full of joy because nature, poetry and hope were his companions. It was the
period of youth that is gone for good. A painful change has taken place. His body
has deceived him. He was active, alert and agile during his youth time. His spirits
were unchecked and free. He was afraid of nothing. He never bothered about wind
or weather. He was like those legendary boats that freely moved on the wide rivers
and winding lakes. Friendship provided refuge and shelter from the woes and
worries of life and served as an oasis in the vast wilderness of the world. Love and
liberty enabled him to drink the cup of life to its very dregs.
At this point, the poem takes a philosophical
turn and Coleridge tries to pacify and console himself by arguing that he is
still young. The “masker bold” has put on a new mask. This change in his
exterior is no proof of his old age. “Life is but a thought” and it depends
upon us how we think about life. Hope sustains life and the death of hope is,
in a sense, the death of life.
Coleridge is of the view that life in
its serial time changes but the thought keeps it fresh and saves it from fading
away.