Among School Children Summary & Analysis
by William Butler Yeats

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William Butler Yeats published "Among School Children" in his famous 1928 collection of poems, The Tower. Yeats was in his 60s at the time and, like the speaker in this poem, served as an Irish senator whose responsibilities included inspecting public schools. In the poem, the speaker's visit to one such school prompts him to reflect on old age, youth, beauty, and change. Although old age brings a decline from the beauty and freshness of youth, the speaker comes to see life as a harmonious whole—meaning that every moment has its own pleasures and rewards.

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