Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FATHER GILLIGAN, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The old priest peter gilligan Last Line: "asleep upon a chair." Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B. Variant Title(s): The Ballad Of Father Gilligan Subject(s): Clergy | ||||||||
The old priest Peter Gilligan Was weary night and day; For half his flock were in their beds, Or under green sods lay. Once, while he nodded on a chair, At the moth-hour of eve, Another poor man sent for him, And he began to grieve. "I have no rest, nor joy, nor peace, "For people die and die"; And after cried he, "God forgive! "My body spake, not I!" He knelt, and leaning on the chair He prayed and fell asleep; And the moth-hour went from the fields, And stars began to peep. They slowly into millions grew, And leaves shook in the wind; And God covered the world with shade, And whispered to mankind. Upon the time of sparrow chirp When the moths came once more, The old priest Peter Gilligan Stood upright on the floor. "Mavrone, mavrone! the man has died, "While I slept on the chair"; He roused his horse out of its sleep, And rode with little care. He rode now as he never rode, By rocky lane and fen; The sick man's wife opened the door: "Father! you come again!" "And is the poor man dead?" he cried. "He died an hour ago," The old priest Peter Gilligan In grief swayed to and fro. "When you were gone, he turned and died "As merry as a bird." The old priest Peter Gilligan He knelt him at that word. "He who hath made the night of stars "For souls, who tire and bleed, "Sent one of His great angels down "To help me in my need. "He who is wrapped in purple robes, "With planets in His care, "Had pity on the least of things "Asleep upon a chair." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SONG OF THE DEMENTED PRIEST by JOHN BERRYMAN HORATIO ALGER (1834-1899) by MADELINE DEFREES ELEGIES FOR THE OCHER DEER ON THE WALLS AT LASCAUX by NORMAN DUBIE IN THE TIME OF FALSE MESSIAHS; CIRCA 1648 by NORMAN DUBIE THE GUARDIAN OF THE RED DISK (SPOKEN BY A CITIZEN OF MALTA - 1300) by EMMA LAZARUS DOMESDAY BOOK: FATHER WHIMSETT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DOMESDAY BOOK: REV. PERCY FERGUSON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THIS SIDE OF CALVIN by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY THE SEITZ THEATER by MARTHA RONK SIXTEEN DEAD MEN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |
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