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Old age is a flight of small cheeping birds skimming bare…

“Old age is a flight of small cheeping birds skimming bare trees above a snow glaze. Gaining and failing they are buffeted by a dark wind - But what? On harsh weedstalks the flock has rested - the snow is covered with broken seed husks and the wind tempered with a shrill piping of plenty.” quote by William Carlos Williams
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“Old age is a flight of small cheeping birds skimming bare trees above a snow glaze. Gaining and failing they are buffeted by a dark wind - But what? On harsh weedstalks the flock has rested - the snow is covered with broken seed husks and the wind tempered with a shrill piping of plenty.”

William Carlos Williams

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Old age resembles fragile birds battling harsh winds, yet seeking nourishment.

In simple terms: Old age is fragile and resilient.

Key Takeaway

Find strength amid aging challenges.

Themes

aging fragility resilience

Mood

melancholic hopeful

Type

poetic reflective

When to use this quote

  • elder care
  • personal reflection
  • artistic inspiration

Key Concepts

literature metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the wind symbolize for you?
  • How do you nurture yourself in later life?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may overlook individual variability in aging.

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