The Peninsula by Seamus Heaney (excerpt)
When you have nothing more to say, just drive
For a day all round the peninsula.
The sky is tall as over a runway,
The land without marks, so you will not arrive

But pass through, though always skirting landfall.
At dusk, horizons drink down sea and hill,
The ploughed field swallows the whitewashed gable
And you’re in the dark again…

Seamus Heaney’s ability to communicate in images and metaphor are on clear display in the latest anthology of his poetry, entitled “100 Poems.” He was a master with words and imagery. He was able in just a few lines to create in the imagination a world that put you in his mind regarding an event like his father’s death.

The collection was curated by his family, now five years removed from his death. He had assembled some of his own collections of past poems, but this collection feels more personal and more revealing, not just based on popularity or literary acclaim. This collection is a must-have for any fans of Heaney’s poetry or someone who has never encountered his work in the past.

I received this as an eBook from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of the title. I did not receive any compensation from either company. The opinions expressed herein are completely my own.