'Wild Swans at Coole' provides a poignant reverie on the poet's own transient existence and his growing awareness of the passing of time, setting up a seemingly irreconcilable gap between the beauty and vigour of lost youth and the imperfections of aging. ... Despite his understanding of time as corrupting a 'childish day', and the own unfolding 'tragedy' of his own life, Yeats' search for some justification for his existence leads him to a consideration of the philosophies of the Ancients, 'Plato', 'Aristotle' and 'Pythagor...

• Word Count: 892
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate