Seamus Heaney: Field Work
Heaney is popular at the moment, in with the in crowd. His best work was in the seventies. Field work was published in 1979.
These poems are disturbing, poignant and relevant today.
In Oysters he describes how they lay on the beds, quite happy, undisturbed for millions of years. Only to be ripped from their beds when still alive, violated, laying in a bed of ice. Ready to be eaten by rich folk unnecessarily.
Whilst in Casualty, his friend is shot down unnecessarily , for defying an unofficial curfew imposed by the Provisional IRA.
Just a lover of the countryside, a loner, the price for avoiding the curfew, his freedom.
‘ when he took me in his boat. The screw purling, turning indolent fathoms white. I tasted freedom with him’
Heaney explores the tension between political solidarity and spiritual freedom.
These poems are disturbing, poignant and relevant today.
In Oysters he describes how they lay on the beds, quite happy, undisturbed for millions of years. Only to be ripped from their beds when still alive, violated, laying in a bed of ice. Ready to be eaten by rich folk unnecessarily.
Whilst in Casualty, his friend is shot down unnecessarily , for defying an unofficial curfew imposed by the Provisional IRA.
Just a lover of the countryside, a loner, the price for avoiding the curfew, his freedom.
‘ when he took me in his boat. The screw purling, turning indolent fathoms white. I tasted freedom with him’
Heaney explores the tension between political solidarity and spiritual freedom.