Saturday, November 21, 2009

Figuratively Speaking

It will soon be eleven years since I read this to Julia:

In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned;
Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned
By those that are not entirely beautiful;
Yet many, that have played the fool
For beauty's very self, has charm made wise,
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

May she become a flourishing hidden tree
That all her thoughts may like the linnet be,
And have no business but dispensing round
Their magnanimities of sound,
Nor but in merriment begin a chase,
Nor but in merriment a quarrel.
O may she live like some green laurel
Rooted in one dear perpetual place.

From "A Prayer for my Daughter," W. B. Yeats (full poem here)

1 comment:

Retriever said...

A beautiful poem, thanks. We have a Julia in our family too...