<p>So sad to read about his death this morning. I don’t know how many people here follow poetry, but he was a titan in the literary world, and a wonderful man. His poems had a huge influence on my writing.</p>
<p>I got to meet him in Dublin many years ago. He hosted a small group of literature students in his home, speaking of and reading his poems–a wonderful evening. And I babysat his kids a few days later while the prof took him and his wife out to dinner.</p>
<p>Much condolences to his lovely family. Such a loss.</p>
<p>I enjoyed his work. He was a very strong poet in the early 90s in my opinion. It’s cool you got to meet him. He leaves some great work behind!</p>
<p>I was very sad to hear this news from my D who lives in London. We both had a connection to him. I had met him years ago and was lucky enough to enjoy an afternoon in his company, thanks to a mutual friend from the world of politics. My D performed in one of his plays. He was a very talented man. It’s sad that he had been in such poor health for so many years, and at such a relatively young age.</p>
<p>A major loss indeed.</p>
<p>I came back to CC to see if there was a thread on Seamus Heany. Thank you garland. It sounds like you had a very personal time with him. I met him, too, though not in such a personal way. One of my professors, the novelist Thomas Flanagan, was very close friends with h and has a reading and party at his home. Heany wrote about Setauket where we were. If I can find his poem I will post it.</p>
<p>Garland – I was too foolish to be very influenced in my writing.</p>
<p>I use his recording of Beowulf as part of my Brit Lit survey.</p>
<p>I, too, was greatly saddened this morning.</p>
<p>MM–it’s funny; I used to write poetry, but even now, writing fiction, I am drawn to a musical solidity (don’t think I’m describing well) that comes from him and also form Galway Kinnell (I will be in deep mourning when/if we lose him!).</p>