| Author | Message | ||
| Judy Thompson
Advanced Member Username: judyt54 Post Number: 1475 Registered: 11-2007 |
I've been working my way through his collected poems, and am learning to appreciate this man's work, greatly. I found this one and was struck by the way he manages to involve the reader in the events in the poem, and at the end has given us exactly the right clues for us to understand, at last, what happened. We fill in the blanks, and that's most satisfying. This is a masterpiece of not-too-much information... http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/seamus_heaney/poems/12698 Afraid of the Dark | ||
| Packrat
Intermediate Member Username: harolyn_j_gourley Post Number: 444 Registered: 02-2008 |
Wow...that's one powerful bit of poem, Judy, and the "punchline"...*sigh*...reverberates, doesn't it?! Thanks for posting this. --Packrat. | ||
| Judy Thompson
Advanced Member Username: judyt54 Post Number: 1476 Registered: 11-2007 |
It struck me as the quintessential example of how to write a truly hard, sad poem, and leave most of the work up to the reader. it does have a LOT of reverb, but nowhere does it deal in pity, self-or otherwise. And even though it forces a reader to read carefully, nothing is deliberately obscured. and yes, that last line. Afraid of the Dark | ||
| MV
Senior Member Username: michaelv Post Number: 1133 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi Judy, That last line - I've read this one somewhere before. Yes, it is a strong poem - a good model of contemporary poetry writing. Thanks for providing the link - it was a worthwhile re-read for me - and others Michael (MV) | ||
| Teresa White
Advanced Member Username: teresa_white Post Number: 1979 Registered: 01-2005 |
Thanks for this, Judy. I'm familiar with this one but it's so good to read it here again. I have Heaney's Collected Works so I'm sure it's in there. Now I'll have to go look. Love this poem! T. | ||
| Zefuyn
Advanced Member Username: zefuyn Post Number: 1068 Registered: 12-2006 |
Judy, I'm thrilled you are enjoying Heany's work. He was the first poet I studied, 8 years ago. I'm particularly fond of his poems, Digging, Personal Helicon and Punishment, but his more recent work is exceptional, yep, lemme at his collections, about time I touched base. thank you! Melanie Melanie G. Firth, 2009 The circle is the purpose of the line, M. Insingel | ||
| Emusing
Senior Member Username: emusing Post Number: 7463 Registered: 08-2003 |
Very powerful Judy. Thanks for posting this. I don't own any of his poetry though I am familiar with his name. A friend mentions his work often. I need to add him to my collection! e Word Walker Press; Moonday Poetry; Kyoto Journal |
