Write the Summary of the Poem “A Prayer for My Daughter”.

Write the summary of the poem “A Prayer for My Daughter”.

W.B. Yeats (1865–1939) wrote “A Prayer for My Daughter” (1921) during a stormy evening. The poet expresses his wishes for his newborn daughter. He dreams of a good and happy future for her. The poem shows a father’s deep love and care for his child.

The Storm and the Poet’s Prayer: The poem begins with Yeats describing a violent storm. He walks and prays for his baby girl, who is sleeping peacefully. The storm symbolizes his fears about the harsh world. He says, 

“Because of the great gloom that is in my mind,” 

This shows his deep worry. He hopes his prayers protect her from life’s challenges.

Wishes for Beauty and Kindness: Yeats wishes his daughter to be beautiful but not overly so. He believes too much beauty may bring trouble. He wants her to be kind, gentle, and wise. He feels that true friendships and love come from good character, not just physical beauty.

Hatred and Its Dangers: The poet warns against hatred, especially intellectual hatred. He says,

“An intellectual hatred is the worst.”

Yeats says hatred can destroy peace and happiness. Yeats hopes his daughter avoids opinions that create anger. Instead, she should have a calm and innocent mind, full of joy and self-contentment.

The Ideal Life: The poet prays for his daughter to have a stable and traditional life. He wants her to marry a loving man and live in a home full of peace and customs. He values ceremony and custom, which bring beauty and order to life. For Yeats, these qualities lead to happiness and harmony.

This heartfelt poem shows Yeats’s love and concern for his daughter. He prays she grows up with good values, a happy heart, and a peaceful life. It reflects every parent’s wish for their child’s bright future.