storm on the island

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storm on the island by seamus heaney

ABOUT THE POET

seamus heaney 1939 - 2013

northern irish poet

early poetry focused on rural life, identity and ancestry

published in his first poetry collection - death of a naturalist

3 poems in that collection published in 1964

the poems were about the aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland

TRANSLATION

We are ready, we build our houses short and wide ,

To withstand the storm, with firm and strong roofs.

Where we live the earth is so dry and shrivelled

There is no threat of losing the hay we have, we don't have the conditions for farming

So nothing can be lost. There are no trees

But if we did they could keep us company during the storm

Because of the sound of the wind blasting the branches and leaves

The sound reminds you what you're afraid of

Helps you to forget its attacking your house at the same time.

No trees, no shelter

The sea doesn't keep us company

In the storm the waves hit the house windows

And the sea turns from being comforting to vicious

We stay patient indoors

As the wind whirls around us.

The wind is invisible.

As if what we fear is non existent.

SUMMARY

the poet describes how the speaker and the rest of the residents are prepared for the storm. They built their houses to withstand the battering they're going to take; but as the poem progresses the confidence starts to dwindle and they become more and more desperate.