One of the best descriptions of the type of writer I am was given by Tom Paulin, who described himself as a 'binge' writer - like a binge drinker. I go on binges. Seamus Heaney bingedescriptiondrinker Change image and share on social
In the United States, in poetry workshops, it's now quite a thing to make graduate students learn poems by heart. Seamus Heaney graduateheartlearn Change image and share on social
The murder of Sean Brown hurt my soul. Seamus Heaney brownhurtmurder Change image and share on social
My father was a creature of the archaic world, really. He would have been entirely at home in a Gaelic hill-fort. His side of the family, and the houses I associate with his side of the family, belonged to a traditional rural Ireland. Seamus Heaney archaicassociatebelong 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
The experimental poetry thing is not my thing. It's a programme of the avant-garde: basically a refusal of the kind of poetry I write. Seamus Heaney avantbasicallyexperimental Change image and share on social
I always believed that whatever had to be written would somehow get itself written. Seamus Heaney believewrite Change image and share on social
The problem as you get older... is that you become more self-aware. At the same time, you have to surprise yourself. There's no way of arranging the surprise, so it is tricky. Seamus Heaney arrangeawareold Change image and share on social
It's difficult to learn poems off by heart that don't rhyme. Seamus Heaney difficultheartlearn Change image and share on social
A person from Northern Ireland is naturally cautious. Seamus Heaney cautiousirelandnaturally Change image and share on social
