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
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
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
The group of writers I had grown up with in the '60s - Derek Mahon, Michael Longley, James Simmons, John Hewitt, Paul Muldoon - formed a very necessary and self-sustaining group. Seamus Heaney 60sderekform 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
A public expectation, it has to be said, not of poetry as such but of political positions variously approvable by mutually disapproving groups. Seamus Heaney approvabledisapproveexpectation Change image and share on social
Poetry is what we do to break bread with the dead. Seamus Heaney breadbreakdead Change image and share on social
You yourself don't have to be shaken by mortal danger in order to feel your mortality. Seamus Heaney dangerfeelmortal Change image and share on social
The completely solitary self: that's where poetry comes from, and it gets isolated by crisis, and those crises are often very intimate also. Seamus Heaney completelycrisisintimate Change image and share on social
You can have Irish identity in the north and also have your Irish passport. Seamus Heaney identityirishnorth Change image and share on social
