The Old Woman- Joseph Campbell


As a white candle
In a holy place, 
So is the beauty
Of an aged face.

As the spent radience
Of the winter sun, 
So is a woman
With her travail done.

Her brood gone from her,
And her thoughts as still 
As the watersUnder a ruined mill. 


                The poem 'The Old Woman' is written by Joseph Campbell. The poem is divided into 3 stanza. The meaning of the  poem is deeper than any romantic poem. The poem is very simple, realistic poem. The poet has given  the description  of old lady by different comparisons . It s very natural to see beauty in young women , but t is very understanding to describe the beauty of old woman.  It requires great imaginative power to see beauty in old age.

                In  the first stanza , the poet compares the old lady with the white candle. As the white candle in the holy place gives light and guided  the person who comes there. It is the symbol  of holy figure. Likewise the old lady's face  compared with the white candle. The old lady guides others by the using experience. She enlightens  the life of others. Moreover, white candle is a symbol of beauty. The poet finds beauty in her face.

                In the second  stanza, the poet compares the old lady with the spent radiance of the winter's sun. It means passing of time, and as the sun travels more and more in the sky it spends its radiance more and more. Through the time passes , she has gathered a wide experience of life. Moreover , at the  sunshine the sunset looks beautiful due to radiance. Here, the same thing for the old lady. Here wide range of experience is an extra ornaments in the life of old lady.  It adds charms in her beauty.

                In the final stanza, the poet compares the old woman with the ruined water of the mill. They neither vanished nor runs away. So here the same position for the old lady. Her broods have gone away from her in old age and , her thoughts are still as ruined waters of the mills. It means it suggests steadiness and maturity in the life of old lady.


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