Princess Theodora von Auersperg

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,

And nodding by the fire, take down this book,

And slowly read, and dream of the soft look

Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,

Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled

And paced upon the mountains overhead

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

~ A poem by Irish poet William Butler Yeats, asking his love to look forward to old age in an attempt to secure his adoration in return. It’s said to be about the poet’s relationship with Irish actress Maud Gonne after he fell in love with her in nine short days.