I've always associated the moment of writing with a moment of lift, of joy, of unexpected reward. Seamus Heaney havejoylift Change image and share on social
As a young poet, you need corroboration, and that's what publication does. Seamus Heaney corroborationpoetpublication Change image and share on social
In poetry, everything can be faked but the intensity of utterance. Seamus Heaney fakeintensitypoetry Change image and share on social
Even if the hopes you started out with are dashed, hope has to be maintained. Seamus Heaney dashhopemaintain Change image and share on social
Every time you read a poem aloud to yourself in the presence of others, you are reading it into yourself and them. Voice helps to carry words farther and deeper than the eye. Seamus Heaney aloudcarrydeep Change image and share on social
I would say that something important for me and for my generation in Northern Ireland was the 1947 Education Act, which allowed students who won scholarships to go on to secondary schools and thence to university. Seamus Heaney actalloweducation share on social
In a war situation or where violence and injustice are prevalent, poetry is called upon to be something more than a thing of beauty. Seamus Heaney beautycallinjustice Change image and share on social
The amount of sensory material stored up or stored down in the brain's and the body's systems is inestimable. It's like a culture at the bottom of a jar, although it doesn't grow, I think, or help anything else to grow unless you find a way to reach it and touch it. Seamus Heaney amountbodybottom share on social
I think that water is immediately interesting. It's just, as an element, it is full of life. It is associated with origin; it is bright - it reflects you. Seamus Heaney brightelementfull Change image and share on social
I think the first little jolt I got was reading Gerard Manley Hopkins - I liked other poems... but Hopkins was kind of electric for me - he changed the rules with speech, and the whole intensity of the language was there and so on. Seamus Heaney changeelectricgerard share on social