Seamus_Heany_Childhood_Poems

Seamus Heany Childhood Poems Seamus Heany “Examine in a range of poems the poetic significance Heany gives to his collection of childhood and early youth “ Heany’s earlier poems are derived from his childhood experiences, and in particular they way he feels he relates to his family ‘Digging’ and ‘Follower’, and how he has blossomed from his upbringing ‘Death of a Naturalist. Born and brought up in a farming community in Ireland, his roots are explicitly nature based, his adoration for his father and respect for the land and his work and very prominent. In the poem ‘Digging’, watching his father at work in the garden inspires him, and inturn brings back memories of when he was young- digging within his memory. Symbolically going beyond the surface, and shifting in time as his father shifts the dirt. He recalls the rhythmic “clean rasping sound” which is all-real to him, and he conveys this well to his audience. He greatly admires and idolises his father, speaking fondly of special bonding times they shared together. “To scatter new potatoes that we picked” He changes his tone in the fifth stanza, where he reflects in awe of his grandfathers talent. He’s father, heany, way, fathers, he’s, family, work, very, pen, particular, out, digging, childhood, digging, tone, strength, respect, poem, picture, obviously, nature, mind, memory, again, follower, young, while, tool, time, talent, stanza, spade, shoulders, revolting, recalls