his daughter to be like the lady He claims that no one can follow a woman who does not find a true friend Wishes for courtesy and kindness for his daughter Yeats thinks that the qualities of courtesy and kindness may make his daughter strong enough to face any situation The poet desires another quality for his daughter spreading love to the community He says his daughter will be like a laurel tree spreading love around it He also prays that his daughter avoids the evil quality of hatred and jealousy He wants his daughter to marry into an aristocratic family where tradition and courtesy are taught That is why he utters How but in custom and ceremony Are innocence and beauty born Yeats' concern for his daughter's future Yeats was concerned about his daughter's future in a rapidly changing world He wanted his daughter to be protected from the chaos and confusion of the world and to grow up to be a strong independent and virtuous person This concern for his daughter's future is reflected in the poem as Yeats prays for her and offers her his blessings He says Being made beautiful overmuch Consider beauty a sufficient end Lose natural kindness Yeats' beliefs about the role of women The poem reflects Yeats' views about the role of women in society He talks about how he wants his daughter to be a beautiful and dutiful wife and how he wants her to be full of charity This reflects Yeats' belief that women should be virtuous and should fulfil traditional roles in society Yeats' fear of ageing Yeats was well aware of his mortality and the transience of human life He feared that he would not live long enough to see his daughter grow up and face the challenges of life This fear of ageing is reflected in the poem as Yeats talks about the passing of time and the impermanence of human life Yeats's belief in the power of art The poem reflects Yeats's belief in the power of art to change the world He talks about how he wants his daughter to be wise and know the things that matter Again he talks about how he wants her to be famous in the nation It reflects Yeats' belief that art can inspire people and change the world A Prayer for My Daughter is a profoundly autobiographical poem that reflects Yeats's personal political and mystical beliefs It is a heartfelt prayer from a father to his daughter Through this poem Yeats gives us a glimpse into his life and his deepest concerns and beliefs