Carl Tomlinson explores how a small townland in County Mayo was a source of inspiration for Michael Longley, and looks at his New Selected Poems, 'Ash Keys' (Penguin, 2024).
Having come shamefully late to Michael Longley, this was very interesting to read, thank you, and I loved your phrase 'relentless human sense-making'. 'The Leveret' which I first discovered and read to my mother because she wanted an animal poem (she has dementia), turned out to be more of a place poem (the place being Carrigskeewaun, of course) than an animal poem, and more a poem of anticipation and touching plans for the imminent arrival of a small grandchild. I read it quite often to my mother, who would have forgotten that I'd read it before, and though her understanding has deteriorated, the images and sense of anticipation in it meant something to her and moved her every time, as they did me.
I read this poem and whoaaaa what a write I hope that's right 🥹😌
Really in awe of this writer
Having come shamefully late to Michael Longley, this was very interesting to read, thank you, and I loved your phrase 'relentless human sense-making'. 'The Leveret' which I first discovered and read to my mother because she wanted an animal poem (she has dementia), turned out to be more of a place poem (the place being Carrigskeewaun, of course) than an animal poem, and more a poem of anticipation and touching plans for the imminent arrival of a small grandchild. I read it quite often to my mother, who would have forgotten that I'd read it before, and though her understanding has deteriorated, the images and sense of anticipation in it meant something to her and moved her every time, as they did me.