Firstly, ‘memories of people’ can be interpreted in many ways – Sheers in particular applies to all of these examples: Wales, places, history, family, childhood and relationships.
In the poem ‘On Going’, Sheers remembers his deceased grandmother. Sheers ironically describes her as ‘an ancient child’, using an oxymoron – a technique used regularly by Sheers in his other poems. The word ‘ancient’ suggests very old, but also ‘fragile’. When used with ‘child’, we have a phrase that Sheers uses to suggests that she is very delicate and innocent – overall, Sheers may be suggesting that his grandma does not deserve this.
However, Sheers’ grandmother can also be depicted as quite strong. During the first quatrain Sheers says that his grandma was ‘disconnected’ from her life-support machines – ‘instruments’. Being disconnected suggests that she is accepting of her own death – which is incredibly brave. And so, Sheers may be showing that although his grandma appeared weak – she was strong.
Heaney has very similar ideas in his poem ‘A Drink of Water’, where he laments the death of an old woman. The English-form sonnet is centralised around one old lady who visits a well ‘every morning’. It is suggested that she is dead because of the use of past tense – ‘she came’. She is described as weak by Heaney – ‘like an old bat’. This simile is similar to Sheers technique of using everyday objects to create accurate descriptions.
The old lady’s struggle may be symbolism for anyone struggling for something that they need – everyday she is ‘staggering up the field’, this adjective is effective for readers to visualise the old lady’s movements. In particular, the struggle that she may be symbolism for is Ireland’s slowly dying culture – much like the lady herself , ‘whooping cough’. ‘Remember the Giver’can be ambiguous – a technique used by both Heaney and Sheers, but mostly Heaney. It may refer to the English, Heaney enforces this by using a sonnet in the English language and form. And so Heaney is suggesting that he must use this English language and form to describe her struggle – the out-dated Irish culture – which was ironically caused by ‘the Giver’. However it may refer to the Irish roots and ancestors, who have cast aside due to the English – Sheers and Heaney both use themes of cultural heritage. Like Sheers, Heaney suggests that the old lady is more independent or prideful that first suggested. The voice drinks from the old lady’s ‘cup’ in order to be ‘faithful to the admonishment’ – it’s suggested that the old lady was defiant to the influences of the English culture – she is very traditional, still using a ‘pump’ to get her water.
This idea of losing culture can be found in Sheers’ ‘Steelworks’ as well. Sheers describes old Steelworkers working out in a gym and compares the actions that they currently do to how they used to work. Sheers suggests that their work is deeply rooted in them and in the Welsh society by describing the Steel Industry as a ‘mothership’.
And so, and in both poems Sheers and Heaney present an old woman that they both used to know who is quite independent, choosing not to depend on modern technology in order to have something they need. It may be medical assistance – ‘measure, record, monitor’ – or water – ‘as it filled’ that these women need, however they both choose to assist themselves rather than depend on others.
In ‘Mametz Wood’, Sheers describes the loss of many Welsh men fighting in a battle. Heaney also uses themes of conflict which results in death in ‘Casualty’. Both poets use the form of their poems to mimic the deaths of others.
The tercets in ‘Mametz Wood’ have long lines. They may be used to mimic the lines in a field created by a plough – the use of ‘farmers’ is closely linked with Sheers’ Welsh heritage- with ‘the wasted young’ buried deeply within the second line.
Heaney does something similar in ‘Casualty’ by mimicking people’s reaction to Louis O’Neil’s death. The poem is separated in three parts, each break between parts is used as a large pause – which mimics how people held their ‘breath and trembled’ as they mourned O’Neil’s death.
Both poets create an almost frustrated tone – both questing the purpose of war. Sheers talks about how the men have only be recognised now for their effort in a war – which links in with the theme that reoccurs throughout the whole of Sheers’ anthology, what being a man means. In this poem, Sheers may be honouring the men for their acts – but may also be angry that they ‘have only now’ been able to receive such appreciation. Being personally effected, Heaney shows his remorse through his actions – he needed support desperately, ‘braced and bound’, and only found it by being near friends, ‘like brothers in a ring’. Heaney’s reaction suggests regret and sadness, a mix of emotion that can cause people to question the point of conflict if people’s lives are at risk.
when dion met english 