7. SEAMUS HEANEYSEAMUS HEANEY
• Irish poetIrish poet
• Born on 1939Born on 1939
• First book – “Eleven poems” (1965)First book – “Eleven poems” (1965)
• Awarded Nobel prize in Literature (1995)Awarded Nobel prize in Literature (1995)
• Other works – “Selected poems 1965-1975”,Other works – “Selected poems 1965-1975”,
““Preoccupations: Selected pose 1968-1978”Preoccupations: Selected pose 1968-1978”
8. FOLLOWERFOLLOWER
My father worked with a horse-plough,My father worked with a horse-plough,
His shoulders globed like a full sail strungHis shoulders globed like a full sail strung
Between the shafts and the furrow.Between the shafts and the furrow.
The horse strained at his clicking tongue. The horse strained at his clicking tongue.
An expert. He would set the wingAn expert. He would set the wing
And fit the bright steel-pointed sock.And fit the bright steel-pointed sock.
The sod rolled over without breaking.The sod rolled over without breaking.
At the headrig, with a single pluck At the headrig, with a single pluck
Of reins, the sweating team turned roundOf reins, the sweating team turned round
And back into the land. His eyeAnd back into the land. His eye
Narrowed and angled at the ground,Narrowed and angled at the ground,
Mapping the furrow exactly. Mapping the furrow exactly.
9. I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake,I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake,
Fell sometimes on the polished sod;Fell sometimes on the polished sod;
Sometimes he rode me on his backSometimes he rode me on his back
Dipping and rising to his plod. Dipping and rising to his plod.
I wanted to grow up and plough,I wanted to grow up and plough,
To close one eye, stiffen my arm.To close one eye, stiffen my arm.
All I ever did was followAll I ever did was follow
In his broad shadow round the farm. In his broad shadow round the farm.
I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,
Yapping always. But today Yapping always. But today
It is my father who keeps stumblingIt is my father who keeps stumbling
Behind me, and will not go away. Behind me, and will not go away.
10. DIFFICULT WORDSDIFFICULT WORDS
• Strain -/strein/ - to show effects of worry or pressure.Strain -/strein/ - to show effects of worry or pressure.
• Sod -/sod – a Layer of earth with grass growing on it.Sod -/sod – a Layer of earth with grass growing on it.
• Rein -/rein/ - long narrow leather band that is fastenedRein -/rein/ - long narrow leather band that is fastened
around a horse’s neck to itaround a horse’s neck to it
• Yap -/ jaep/ - to make a sharp. Irritating sound.Yap -/ jaep/ - to make a sharp. Irritating sound.
11. SCAFFOLDINGSCAFFOLDING
QUESTIONSQUESTIONS
• What was the speaker’s father?What was the speaker’s father?
• What was his father expert at?What was his father expert at?
• What did the speaker want to become?What did the speaker want to become?
12. HINTSHINTS
• The speaker’s father was a farmer.The speaker’s father was a farmer.
• He was an expert in farming.He was an expert in farming.
• The speaker wanted to be like his father, aThe speaker wanted to be like his father, a
good farmer.good farmer.
