The Ballad of Father Gilligan by W.B Yeats summary

The Ballad of Father Gilligan

W.B Yeats

W.B Yeats’ “The Ballad of Father Gilligan” is written in the style of ballad with twelve stanzas of four lines. Ballad is a simple narrative poem written in a simple language. The theme of the poem is about the presence of God everywhere and his love for all. The poem is about a miracle happened in the life of Father Gilligan, an old priest.

          The poem begins with the introduction of Peter Gilligan, an old priest.  He helps his people, who are under his church. Half of his people are in death bed or buried under the ground due to sickness. He treats the sick people and conducts funeral for the dead. He treats them day and night and thus becomes very tired. One day due to his tiredness he is about to sleeps on his chair. The presence of insects indicates it as evening.  At that time someone calls for the priest’s help. The priest feels upset about being called. His continuous help to the needy people and his tiredness makes him to get upset. Because of his tiredness he says that he does not have rest, happiness or peace as people under his parish die continuously. Immediately he feels sorry for saying such words. He begs God to forgive him because those words are spoken by his body and not by him.

Father Gilligan kneels down on the floor to get forgiveness from God. He leans on the chair and prays and due to his tiredness he sleeps. Now the insects have gone and the stars begin to appear. As night starts the sky is filled with stars. Due to the flow of wind leaves are falling from the trees. God covers the world with darkness and speaks slowly to mankind.

Chirping of sparrows indicate the early hours of morning time. The insects come once again. At that time Father Gillian wakes up from his sleep. He is shocked to know that he slept for a long time. He blames himself by saying that the person who needed his help might have died. He wakes his horse and rides very fast. He rides rashly over narrow roads and wet lands and reaches the sick man’s house. By seeing the Father, the sick man’s wife wonders that he has come again.

Father Gilligan asks whether the man died and the wife replies that he died an hour ago. In sadness the priest walks to and fro. The woman replies that after the priest leaves he died in a peaceful manner. Hearing such word Father Gilligan kneels on the floor. He says that God has made the stars at night to comfort the souls. God might have sent one of His angels to help him. God is a king in purple colour robes and takes care of all the planets. It shows that god has many big responsibilities. Even with such responsibility God had pity on a simple person like Father Gilligan when he slept. Father Gilligan feels grateful to God for being kind and merciful to him. The poem shows the love and care of God for whom all the lives are equal and important.