What Are The Prayers of the Poet for His Infant Daughter?

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What are the prayers of the poet for his infant daughter W B Yeats - wrote A Prayer for My Daughter just after his daughter Anne s birth A wild storm was blowing outside while the poet walked and prayed He was worried about her future in a troubled world So he prayed for her beauty virtue peace and happiness Wish for Moderate Beauty Yeats prays that his daughter may be beautiful but not too beautiful He fears extreme beauty brings pride and sorrow He says May she be granted beauty and yet not Beauty to make a stranger s eye distraught The poet recalls Helen of Troy whose beauty caused ruin He wants his daughter to have kind beauty that helps her make true friends and live a calm life free from vanity and pride Wish for Innocence and Kindness Yeats wishes his daughter to have a pure heart

and gentle manners He believes that real love and respect come from kindness not from physical appearance He says Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned By those that are not entirely beautiful He wants her to grow like a flourishing hidden tree The poet hopes she will avoid hate and jealousy and live a simple Wish for a Peaceful Married Life Finally the poet prays that she may marry a man from a good family It is in the poet s voice And may her bridegroom bring her to a house Where all s accustomed ceremonious He wants her to live among order tradition and harmony where love and respect rule not arrogance or hatred In conclusion Yeats s prayers show a loving father s heart He wishes his daughter beauty without pride innocence without hate and a peaceful home filled with love

A Prayer for My Daughter

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What Are The Prayers of the Poet for His Infant Daughter?

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William Butler Yeats

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