The author uses symbols throughout the poem to relay all the metaphoric strength, and the feelings he wishes to communicate. In the title, Sailing evokes the journey that every man makes through life; Byzantium, a city full of splendor, symbolizes endurance, cultural richness, and greatness.

It is clear that the author is concerned with growing old. In the first stanza, he writes “That is no country for old men”, to continue describing a world of roaming energy and life “Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long”. But this world is not everl

asting, for everything fades and dies. Every man is trapped in the net of time, even if we occupy our life distracting and enjoying. Our time will eventually come to an end: “Caught in that sensual music all neglect”.

In the final stanza he declares that in this new life of art, when he is separated finally from his human body, he would not take on the form of any natural thing, which would be governed by the laws of nature, decay and dye. Instead he would take the form of a bird made of gold, an everlasting being, to communicate and share with humanity the present, the past and the future. Also, this golden bird would “keep a drowsy Emperor awake”, as if he had to maintain a pulse with himself to keep his mind safe from his human condition, and avoid that which is appealing to his senses.

To Yeats,

Some topics in this essay:
Byzantine Empire, Byzantium Yeats, Butler Yeats, william butler yeats, Sailing Byzantium, butler yeats, sailing byzantium, william butler, William Butler,