As I work away at editing my manuscript The Lucky Season, I am haunted by Seamus Heaney’s directives to writers. Like the one in the title of this post. But the sentence before it is the killer for me. You’ve listened long enough. Only then does Heaney add: Now strike your note. Well I have lots […]
Monthly Archives: September 2013
Noli Timere – Be Not Afraid – Heaney’s Work: A Poet’s Work
September 9, 2013 – 11:45 am
from Lightenings viii The annals say: when the monks of Clonmacnoise Were all at prayers inside the oratory A ship appeared above them in the air. The anchor dragged along behind so deep It hooked itself into the altar rails And then, as the big hull rocked to a standstill, a crewman shinned and grappled […]
Making “Rejoice” Answer Back – Further Thoughts on Seamus Heaney
September 3, 2013 – 6:02 pm
THE DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE HOUSE WAS DARK In Memory of David Hammond The door was open and the house was dark Wherefore I called his name, although I knew The answer this time would be silence That kept me standing listening while it grew Backwards and down and out into the street Where […]