For the Love of Irish Poetry

by Cherise Tasker, Central Branch

Where tales be told, words be woven, and music be made, an Irish poet can be found. Indulge in the glorious Irish literary tradition by exploring the riches of Boland, Heaney, and Yeats. One of Ireland’s, and the English language’s, most famous poets, William Butler Yeats won the Nobel Prize in 1923 for his works such as “The Second Coming,” where the phrase “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” was born. His poems embrace the mythological, historical, and the political while adhering to traditional verse structures. An excellent starting point for those new to Irish poetry is the anthology, The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats.

Written in 1966 around the time of Heaney’s marriage, ”Scaffolding” is a unique expression of love and devotion (see opposite page). Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1995, and while his writing also leans toward history, much of the content is personal. Feast on the rich, precise language in his compilation, 100 Poems. The collection includes an excerpt from "The Cure at Troy" where this renowned stanza is found:

History says, Don’t hope

On this side of the grave, But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme.

Eavan Boland, the most contemporary of the three, subverts tradition, exploring women’s daily lives in the context of feminism and Irish history. In A Woman Without a Country, Boland addresses a range of women, from Eurydice to her own daughter. In the eponymous poem sequence, she writes about her grandmother, “What troubled me was not whether she had included her country in her short life. But whether that country had included her.”

Our online collection includes the Gale LitFinder resource. At hclibrary.org, go to the Research tab and select the Literary Criticism & Analysis section. In LitFinder, use the search term “Irish poetry” or enter an author name, subject, or document type (such as “sonnet”) to explore additional classical through contemporary works by Irish poets.

Masons, when they start upon a building, Are careful to test out the scaffolding;

Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points, Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

And yet all this comes down when the job’s done Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be Old bridges breaking between you and me, Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall, Confident that we have built our wall.

The Maryland State statute for Irish American Heritage Month states in part, "The Governor annually shall proclaim the month of March as Irish America Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions that Irish Americans have made to the State."

Poets Corner

Ages 6-11, 45 minutes. Ticketed; free tickets available 15 mins before class starts.

There’s a poem in your head just shouting to come out! Discover the tools poets use to create verses that sparkle and shine. Read, write and have fun sharing poems!

Sat Apr 22 2 - 2:45 pm Elkridge

Playful Poetry

Ages 6-9, 45 minutes. Ticketed; free tickets available 15 mins before class starts.

April is National Poetry Month - celebrate by joining us to hear and share fun poems from a variety of creators. Participants are welcome to bring a poem they love to share with the group. Maybe you will even be inspired to compose a poem of your own!

Thu Apr 27 5 - 5:45 pm Elkridge