1. Love and Romantic Longing: The poem revolves around the speaker's romantic love for a woman, often symbolized by the rose tree. He expresses a deep longing for this person and the desire for their presence in his life.
2. Beauty and Nature: The rose tree, a symbol of beauty and sensual pleasure, stands as a central metaphor throughout the poem. Yeats often associated the beauty of nature with the beauty of love and intertwined the two concepts.
3. Mortality and Loss: The poem hints at the transience of life and the fleeting nature of love. Yeats grapples with the idea of mortality, the ephemeral quality of human life, and the inevitable loss that accompanies it.
4. Unattainable Ideal: The speaker's pursuit of the rose tree can be interpreted as a quest for an unattainable ideal or a perfect, ideal love. The image of the rose tree can symbolize something that is both desirable and elusive.
5. Memory and Nostalgia: The poem evokes a sense of nostalgia for a past love or experience. The speaker's remembrance of the rose tree becomes a way of preserving the memory of something once cherished.
6. Symbolism and Imagery: Yeats makes use of rich symbolism, imagery, and sensory details to convey complex emotional states and ideas. The rose tree, the moon, the wind, and other natural elements serve as symbols to enhance the poem's meanings.
7. Spiritual Transcendence: The poem contains spiritual undertones, with the speaker finding moments of transcendence and spiritual insight through his connection with nature and his love for the woman.
8. Loneliness and Isolation: Despite the presence of the rose tree, the speaker experiences feelings of loneliness and isolation, suggesting a sense of separation and longing for a deeper connection.
9. Human Emotions and Passions: "The Rose Tree" explores the intensity of human emotions, particularly the ecstasy and anguish associated with passionate love.
10. Mortality and Eternity: The tension between the transitory nature of human life and the eternal cycles of nature is another theme that runs through the poem.
Ultimately, "The Rose Tree" is a multi-layered and multifaceted poem that delves into the complexities of love, loss, beauty, and the human experience, making it open to various interpretations and resonances with readers.