Friday, September 6, 2013

SCAFFOLDING by Seamus Heaney

image found here
Hello and happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit fantasy-loving, postcard-sending, poetry-writing/teaching Laura at Author Amok for roundup.

Such sadness to hear of Seamus Heaney's death. So many of his poems speak to me... my favorite perhaps ever is from his Glanmore Sonnets. Scroll down to "X." LOVE.

When I read that his last words were a text that included a Latin phrase for "Do not be afraid," it reminded me of this poem. And then I read about a gift he'd given to a newly engaged couple and simply had to share for PF! Listen to Seamus reading the poem here.... and here's to poets performing unexpected kindnesses.

Scaffolding

 

by Seamus Heaney



Masons, when they start upon a building,
Are careful to test out the scaffolding;

Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,
Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

And yet all this comes down when the job’s done
Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be
Old bridges breaking between you and me

Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall
Confident that we have built our wall.

5 comments:

  1. Hi, Irene. Many of us seem to have friendship and the support that it brings on our minds today.

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  2. Beautiful, Irene. A lot of love going to Seamus Heaney this week, I can see. My eye was caught by notions of 'old bridges breaking' - it's kin to my Poetry Friday post this week. :)

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  3. This poem just had the Emily Dickinson effect on me -- you know, how she said you know it's poetry if it blows off the top of your head. What a perfect description of a long relationship, and the way it develops. Thank you for this!

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  4. "Do not be afraid."
    Words to live and write by.

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  5. More shared Seamus Heany love. Wonderful poem!

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