Hey there!
I totally get where you’re coming from with Yeats. “Among School Children” is a really interesting poem with a lot going on. One of the main themes is definitely the tension between youth and aging. Yeats reflects on how life changes as you grow older, especially through the imagery of the children. For example, in the stanza where Yeats talks about “The youth of the world… in an old man’s frame,” you can see that he’s wrestling with the idea of aging and how the body changes, but the mind still holds onto memories of youth.
As for the relationship between mothers, nuns, and children, it’s almost like Yeats is commenting on how society’s expectations of women – especially in a religious context – shape their roles. The nuns seem to be guiding the children, but there’s also a subtle suggestion of loss, of motherhood or nurturing being tied up in these institutions. It’s kind of bittersweet.
The big takeaway for me is the constant reflection on the cycle of life. Yeats seems to be grappling with the idea that youth is fleeting, but it’s something you always carry with you – even as you age.
Hope this helps!