葉慈的詩，意境很美，對於走過一生的遲暮老人來說，更能體會燈火闌珊處的可貴。 

葉慈的詩以優美著稱，只是若用中文來意會，翻譯的功力就舉足輕重了。



當你年老，灰白，睡意正濃，在火爐邊打盹，取下這本書

慢慢閱讀，夢見你眼中一度發出之柔光，以及深深暗影

多少人愛你愉悅丰采的時光    愛你的美，以或真或假之情

祇一個人愛你朝聖者的心靈    愛你變化的容顏蘊藏的憂傷

並且俯身紅光閃閃的欄柵邊    帶點哀傷，喃喃低語，愛怎樣

逃逸，逡巡於頭頂的高山上    且將他的臉隱匿於群星之間


原文
 When You Are Old 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