A Prayer for My Daughter

Poetry | William Butler Yeats
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O may she live like some green laurel

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Explain the following lines O may she live like some green laurel Rooted in one dear perpetual place These lines are taken from W B Yeats - poem A Prayer for My Daughter In this poem Yeats is praying for the future life of his baby daughter Anne Standing near her cradle during a storm he is thinking about what qualities she should have when she grows up Yeats prays that his daughter will live a good peaceful and stable life In the line O may she live like some green laurel Yeats uses a very beautiful image A laurel is an evergreen tree It stays fresh and green throughout the year By comparing his daughter to a green laurel Yeats is praying that she will always stay calm strong and happy A laurel also stands for honour and goodness So Yeats wishes that his daughter will live a life

filled with dignity and moral strength The next line is Rooted in one dear perpetual place This line means Yeats does not want his daughter to live a restless or unstable life He wants her to stay safe in one good place The word rooted suggests stability safety and deep connection with family and friends The phrase one dear perpetual place means a happy home a peaceful family and a steady life without chaos Yeats hopes she will not wander from place to place She will find happiness in a peaceful family and around friends So in these lines Yeats is praying for a stable peaceful and happy life for his daughter He wants her to grow like a healthy tree that stands firmly in one safe loving place

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William Butler Yeats
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from A Prayer for My Daughter