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Judy Thompson
Advanced Member
Username: judyt54

Post Number: 1475
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 11:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 11:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 12:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 7:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 8:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 8:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 9:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post

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