The speaker has seen a banshee moving along a dark country lane, wailing and combing her long white hair, then stopping at Molly Reilly’s door to sob until midnight. Molly believes her man is away as a sailor, and she sets a candle out each night to guide him home. In truth, he has left her for another woman in Galway, but nobody will tell her. The speaker feels dread and pity for Molly, hoping the banshee is keening for Molly herself rather than for the man, because if he dies, someone may finally have to break the cruel truth to her. The repeated image of the shadowy banshee in the boreen creates an eerie, sorrowful mood, full of secrets, waiting, and the fear of death arriving before the truth does.
The Banshee — Summary
Now God between us and all harm, For I to-night have seen A banshee in the shadow pass Along the dark boreen.
And as she went she keened and cried And combed her long white hair, She stopped at Molly Reilly's door, And sobbed till midnight there.
And is it for himself she moans, Who is so far away ? Or is it Molly Reilly's death She cries until the day ?
Now Molly thinks her man is gone A sailor lad to be ; She puts a candle at her door Each night for him to see.
But he is off to Galway town, (And who dare tell her this ?) Enchanted by a woman's eyes, Half-maddened by her kiss.
So as we go by Molly's door We look towards the sea. And say, " May God bring home your lad, Wherever he may be."
I pray it may be Molly's self The banshee keens and cries, For who dare breathe the tale to her, Be it her man who dies ?
But there is sorrow on the way, For I to-night have seen A banshee in the shadow pass Along the dark boreen.