The speaker remembers meeting Sile on the road to Gartan fair and knowing her at once by her proud walk, her dark hair, and her bright silver eye. Affection colors everything he says: they greet each other, ride to the fair, dance together, and leave the other young men jealous. He still speaks with the pride of a young man who won the girl everyone wanted. That young admiration became a long marriage. Twenty years later, he sees her the same way—black head carried high, eye still clear—and now they have a daughter who is her living likeness. He ends by blessing old Sile and young Sile alike, hoping both have strong children. The mood is warm, musical, and celebratory, like an Irish folk song. It honors first attraction, but even more it honors lasting love, family pride, and the joy of seeing a beloved face passed on.
Black Sile of the Silver Eye — Summary
As I rode down to Gartan fair I met a girl upon the way: The winter night was on her hair, The summer dawn was in her eye.
And O, she stepped with such a gait, And bore her round black head so high, And tossed it so, I knew her straight For Sile of the Silver Eye.
"God save you, Sile, love," says I: "God save you kindly," murmured she-- And love was welling in her eye As she dropped me the courtesy.
The mountain boys upon the road Were at themselves for jealousy When they saw Seamus win the nod From Sile of the Silver Eye.
We rode together to the fair, We danced together on the green; And, faith, they say a suppler pair Was ne'er before a piper seen.
Black Sile of the Silver Eye Has been my wife for twenty year, And still her sloe-black head is high, And still her eye is silver clear.
And, God be praised, we have a girl, As like her as like well can be-- The round black head, the roguish curl, The soft tongue and the silver eye.
God bless the old, God bless the new, And send them stout posterity-- Old Sile and young Sile, too-- Both "Sile of the Silver Eye!"