I've heard the news this morning and it came as no surprise <br />Of how the Irish poet Seamus Heaney had won the Nobel Prize <br />His place assured in literature along with other greats <br />With Beckett, Joyce and Kipling and Oscar Wilde and Yeats. <br /> <br />In Heaney's great achievement the Irish can take pride <br />By World press for too long their worth has been denied <br />The troubles in Northern Ireland in news headlines for years <br />They tried to portray Ireland as land of blood and tears. <br /> <br />Around the bards and writers the Celtic culture grew <br />And why classify a whole race due to unworthy few <br />A bomb goes off in London the banner headlines 'shame' <br />And for act of individual a whole race take the blame. <br /> <br />The pre peace bombs in Belfast made World headline news <br />And for crimes of individuals a whole race stood accused <br />And when Seamus Heaney wins the prize why not I too feel pride <br />For too long of the Irish their worth has been denied. <br /> <br />Good on you Seamus Heaney with World's best you stand <br />You've brought yourself great honour as well as to Ireland <br />Like Yeats and Joyce before you, you've earnt your literary <br />place <br />As a very honoured member of a very worthy race.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-hearing-that-seamus-heaney-had-won-the-nobel-prize-for-literature/
