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Richard's Reviews > 100 Poems
100 Poems
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I could not delay reading this collection of poems any longer. After a couple of recent excursions into more modern anthologies, there was an impetus within to read a Ireland’s treasure, the sadly missed, Seamus Heaney.
Prior to his death this prodigious poet was approached about a similar venture. It seemed respectful and appropriate that 5 years after he passed, his family helped bring his works together for this special selection of 100 poems.
In a forward on behalf of the family, his daughter Catherine provides some background into how they chose just fragment of his lifetime’s work.
It is a celebration, and will resonate with those who already adore his poems and win many new admirers.
For my part, I was vaguely aware of some of the more well known verse from the ‘troubles�. I did not have a grasp of his range and extent of poetic voice.
As the family recall; they miss that distinctive voice reading his poems and so I have subsequently listened to a few and this has added to my enjoyment.
Here are classics: like Digging; Scaffolding; Two Lorries and my favourite Whatever You Say, Say Nothing.
I also enjoyed: Miracle; District and Circle; St Kevin and the Blackbird; The Skylight andThe Railway Children.
A traditional poet with and enduring voice.
“Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four-foot box in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear,
A four-foot box, a foot for every year.�
“After they shot dead
The thirteen men in Derry.
PARAS THIRTEEN, the walls said,
BOGSIDE NIL. That Wednesday
Everybody held
Their breath and trembled.�
“‘To be called a British soldier while my country
Has no place among nations....� You were rent
By shrapnel six weeks later. ‘I am sorry
That party politics should divide our tents.’�
“Her breath in mine, our fluent dipping knives -
Never closer the whole rest of our lives.�
“She touched our cheeks. She let us touch her braille
In books like books wallpaper patterns came in.
Her hands were active and her eyes were full
Of open darkness and a watery shine.�
Read it and make your own mind up.
Prior to his death this prodigious poet was approached about a similar venture. It seemed respectful and appropriate that 5 years after he passed, his family helped bring his works together for this special selection of 100 poems.
In a forward on behalf of the family, his daughter Catherine provides some background into how they chose just fragment of his lifetime’s work.
It is a celebration, and will resonate with those who already adore his poems and win many new admirers.
For my part, I was vaguely aware of some of the more well known verse from the ‘troubles�. I did not have a grasp of his range and extent of poetic voice.
As the family recall; they miss that distinctive voice reading his poems and so I have subsequently listened to a few and this has added to my enjoyment.
Here are classics: like Digging; Scaffolding; Two Lorries and my favourite Whatever You Say, Say Nothing.
I also enjoyed: Miracle; District and Circle; St Kevin and the Blackbird; The Skylight andThe Railway Children.
A traditional poet with and enduring voice.
“Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four-foot box in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear,
A four-foot box, a foot for every year.�
“After they shot dead
The thirteen men in Derry.
PARAS THIRTEEN, the walls said,
BOGSIDE NIL. That Wednesday
Everybody held
Their breath and trembled.�
“‘To be called a British soldier while my country
Has no place among nations....� You were rent
By shrapnel six weeks later. ‘I am sorry
That party politics should divide our tents.’�
“Her breath in mine, our fluent dipping knives -
Never closer the whole rest of our lives.�
“She touched our cheeks. She let us touch her braille
In books like books wallpaper patterns came in.
Her hands were active and her eyes were full
Of open darkness and a watery shine.�
Read it and make your own mind up.
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