Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney (1939-2013), who grew up in Derry in Northern Ireland in the 1940's and 50's captures brilliantly the experiences of his rural childhood in many of his poems. Growing up on the small family cattle farm Heaney has written extensively on his recollections of the life of his family and those about him. In many poems he reflects on the nature of the rural way of life and the soil clearly influenced strongly his experiences. Heaney won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1995.

Have a read of his first collection of poems in 'Death of a Naturalist'
(Faber ISBN 0 571 09024 9).

From the poem 'Digging',
'Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods
Over his shoulder, going down and down
For the good turf. Digging.'

In 'Dawn Shoot', seeking rabbits in,
'A sandy bank, reinforced with coiling roots..'These, and others, are powerful images that bring to life his recollections.