The Perch

Seamus HeaneySeamus Heaney

1 min read · 12.4K reads

Perch on their water perch hung in the clear Bann River

Near the clay bank in alder dapple and waver,Perch they called ‘grunts’, little flood-slubs, runty and ready,

I saw and I see in the river’s glorified bodyThat is passable through, but they’re bluntly holding the

pass,

Under the water-roof, over the bottom, adozeOn the current, against it, all muscle and slur

In the finland of perch, the fenland of alder, on airThat is water, on carpets of Bann stream, on hold

In the everything flows and steady go of the world.

Seamus Heaney
About the poet

Seamus Heaney

1939 - 2013/Male/IrishA poet, playwright, translator and lecturer, Heaney's work explores the local surroundings of Ireland and how to trust the modern world.

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