What is the main message of the poem when all the others were away at Mass?

This is a personal poem on a precious incident between mother and son that will always be remembered. Both are engaged in a domestic task working in unison and perhaps of more importance is that they had the time together to share in potato peeling while the rest of the family was away at Mass.

What does our fluent dipping knives mean?

The potatoes are the “cold comforts” between them, and the “little pleasant splashes” from the peels are the only things that bring them “to their senses.” What the line “our fluent dipping knives” means is that the act of peeling potatoes together communicates more between them than words ever could.

When all the rest were away at Mass?

When all the others were away at Mass I was all hers as we peeled potatoes. They broke the silence, let fall one by one Like solder weeping off the soldering iron: Cold comforts set between us, things to share Gleaming in a bucket of clean water. And again let fall.

What do the potatoes Symbolise in when all the others were away at Mass?

The simile which compares the falling potatoes to l ‘solder weeping off the soldering iron’ foreshadows the weeping that will take place around the poet’s mother’s deathbed. The companionable silence of the octet is gone.

When did Seamus Heaney’s mother Mary die?

It is Mothering Sunday and a time for us to reflect on those who have cared and nurtured us through childhood and beyond. My thoughts on this subject are best captured by Seamus Heaney in his wonderful poem, ‘Clearances III’ dedicated to his mother, Mary Heaney, who died in 1984.

What was the tone of Seamus Heaney’s poem in memoriam?

Two beautiful things that you should notice about the poem: first, that the tone of the poem is very loving. The poet is proud of his father, who is affectionately called “old man.” And the same with his grandfather who is lauded (= praised) for being able to “cut more turf in a day / Than any other man on Toner’s bog.”

How is the poem in memory of my Mother written?

Kavanagh splits the poem into five stanzas of quatrains. He often uses enjambment, causing the lines to flow on to one another. This steady flow within the poem reflects the happiness of the memories he is exploring, with the melodic movements of the poem emulating his fond remembering. You can read the full poem here.

When did Seamus Heaney get the Nobel Prize?

Here are a couple of his poems that I’d like to share with you. By the way, Seamus is pronounced “Shay-mus.” Heaney is considered to be one of the most important poets of the 20 th century. In 1995 he received the Nobel Prize, pretty much the highest honour a writer can attain (= reach).