Seamus Heaney Mystery Student Fragale 9 th Literature and Composition 15 November 2008

Five Facts for Seamus Heaney Seamus Heaney was born in Castledawson, County Derry, Northern Ireland, on April 13, In 1963, he began teaching English at St. Joseph’s College in Belfast. He earned his teaching certificate in English at the same school. In 1965, he married Marie Devlin, and in 1966, he published his first book, Death of a Naturalist. In 1995, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. He has spent part of every year since 1981 teaching at Harvard University.

Poetry Analysis “Mother of the Groom” by Seamus Heaney What she remembers Is his glistening back In the bath, his small boots In the ring of boots at her feet. Hands in her voided lap, She hears a daughter welcomed. It's as if he kicked when lifted And slipped her soapy hold. Once soap would ease off The wedding ring That's bedded forever now In her clapping hand.

FIRST READING – Think Fast! My reaction to this poem in one word is LOVE.

SECOND READING – Making Connections Text to Self – This poem perfectly relates to my life. In fact, I sent this poem to my now Mother-in-Law the week before my husband and I were married. Though it made her cry, it also warmed her heart to remember her grown son as a baby. The words also prepared her for the day that she would see him on his wedding day.

THIRD READING – Breaking it Down What she remembers Is his glistening back In the bath, his small boots In the ring of boots at her feet. Hands in her voided lap, She hears a daughter welcomed. It's as if he kicked when lifted And slipped her soapy hold. Once soap would ease off The wedding ring That's bedded forever now In her clapping hand. The mother remembers Her son’s wet back, Giving him a bath and his little shoes With all the other shoes that pile on the floor. She rest her hands in her empty lap As she hears the announcement of the new husband and wife. The new freedom of marriage is like her son kicked while she was bathing him as a baby and he broke free from her hold. At one time, the soap in the bath would remove the wedding ring That now can never be removed from her hands, clapping in celebration.

FOURTH READING – Final Thoughts Poetic Devices ALLITERATION – slipped her soapy IMAGERY – “She hears a daughter welcomed” Theme A mother’s love remains even as her kids become adults and move on.

MLA Citation "Seamus Heaney." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets Web. 12 Apr 2010.