Ave atque vale, Seamus Heaney

[Leanne]

Well, that's the call home for Famous Seamus. This wonderful Irish Poet Laureate was responsible not only for a large body of exceptional original works, but also for translating and updating several classics including the wonderful Beowulf.

I certainly didn't like every one of his offerings, but poetry was enriched by his writing and he will be missed.

[milo]

Well, that's the call home for Famous Seamus. This wonderful Irish Poet Laureate was responsible not only for a large body of exceptional original works, but also for translating and updating several classics including the wonderful Beowulf.

I certainly didn't like every one of his offerings, but poetry was enriched by his writing and he will be missed.

While the world still has plenty of good poets left, it is hard not to believe one of the last great poets has passed.

[abu nuwas]

I did not read much of his writing. I was put off, when helping my youngest do his 'A' levels. If he had something to say, I asked my Philistine self, why the screaming bejesus could he not say it? Yet it is sad to see a major name pass, a champion of poetry in general.

No-one here in the UK seems to have that star quality,, but perhaps others will fill the gap. I would like to put a few quid on John Hegley, but that is because he's the Dad of my grand-daughter's chum, and she read his annotated copy of 'Catcher' while swanning around Europe. Any suggestions for successor-in-business?

[ChristopherSea]

Well, that's the call home for Famous Seamus. This wonderful Irish Poet Laureate was responsible not only for a large body of exceptional original works, but also for translating and updating several classics including the wonderful Beowulf.

I certainly didn't like every one of his offerings, but poetry was enriched by his writing and he will be missed.

'Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
I'll dig with it.'

from 'Digging' by Seamus Heaney 1966


74 is relatively young too! One of the first reviews I read on this site was milo bashing someone for saying that their poem was written in the style of Seamus Heaney.

[billy]

if i get to 74 it'll be a miracle :J:
we have some of heaney's work on the site.
i never got to know of him till i uploaded it here. he's a much better poet than some of the famous poets i've read. i heard some put him on par with joyce, in itself that's some accolade. there are too few really great poets around as milo stated, now we have one less, it seems i'll just have to step up to plate......no not for poetry, the dinner bell just went

[rayheinrich]

Perch - Seamus Heaney

Perch on their water-perch hung in the clear Bann River
Near the clay bank in alder-dapple and waver,

Perch we called "grunts," little flood-slubs, runty and ready,
I saw and I see in the river's glorified body

That is passable through, but they're bluntly holding the pass,
Under the water-roof, over the bottom, adoze,

Guzzling the current, against it, all muscle and slur
In the finland of perch, the fenland of alder, on air

That is water, on carpets of Bann stream, on hold
In the everything flows and steady go of the world.

. . .