I have had on my desktop for a month an obituary (or sorts) where I wanted to honor a great poet who lived above the division and violence of politics and religion in Ireland.  (I had originally thought, “Northern Ireland,” but that is not how he thought of it anymore than identifying English as Britain.)

As is the case for our rebellious America, English is a language (even more than a culture or land) and Seamus Heaney was a master of the English language.

A thoughtful look back at the life of this poet, writer and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature will reveal a man of faith who remains us to be faithful to God and country (in that order) in spite of what others think.

I have always thought that evil leaders are evil leaders and thugs are thugs.

Men of God must live above the fray.

It matters not whether they divide Ireland or America.

It matters not if evil men would separate north from south or the church east from west.

Seamus Heaney remained above it all as example for Republican and Democrat, Conservative and Liberal, Catholic and Protestant.

I expect to meet men like this in reunion with both faithful Catholics & dear Protestants in Heaven (as others may meet with claimers from all churches and denominations in Hell.)

God, Jesus Christ, and relationship with the Holy Spirit ought to rule every man and guide every country; certainly churches. Let us also remain about the fray, answerable to a faithful and forgiving God who sent Christ to the Cross for all who believe.

Here is my tribute (not to N. Ireland, not to Britain, not to Catholic, not to Protestant, but to the man and the poet)

To Seamus Heaney:

a man, a poet, an author

Irish not north or south

English not bound by borders

English by his craft of language

Christian unrestrained by division

Christian by example of Christ 

 

Now as news come in

of each neighbourly murder

we pine for ceremony,

customary rhythms:

the temperate footsteps

of a cortege, winding past

each blinded home.

 

Source: BBC

Additional article below & link to reviews of the many Seamus Heaney books.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23895582

http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Seamus+Heaney