Monthly Archives: September 2013

Seamus Heaney’s Kick In The Arse for Writers – Now Strike Your Note

September 12, 2013 – 1:24 pm

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 […]

By Richard Osler | Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , Comments (6)

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 […]

By Richard Osler | Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , Comments (1)

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 […]

By Richard Osler | Posted in General | Tagged , , , , Comments (0)