23. A Kite For Aibhín By Seamus Heaney - A Friend to Fiona

The Poetry Exchange

In this episode you will hear Founder of The Poetry Exchange, Fiona Bennett talking about the poem that has been a friend to her - 'A Kite for Aibhín' by Seamus Heaney. For more inspiration surrounding Heaney and his work, visit Seamus Heaney Home Place: www.seamusheaneyhome.comSince making the live recording of this conversation, we have realised an error of pronunciation in the title - the correct pronunciation of 'Aibhín' is ay_veen. Thank you to a careful listener for pointing this out to us.Fiona founded the project in 2014, with the view of enabling people to explore, discover and voice their friendships with poems, so this is a particularly special episode as it captures her first experience of an Exchange.The Poetry Exchange team had a wonderful few days together in Carcassonne, South of France last year and it was here that Fiona joined fellow Poetry Exchange team members, John Prebble and Becca Manley to talk about her friend.'A Kite For Aibhín' is read by Becca Manley.*****A Kite For AibhínAfter 'L'Aquilone' by Giovanni Pascoli (1855-1912)Air from another life and time and place,Pale blue heavenly air is supportingA white wing beating high against the breeze,And yes, it is a kite! As when one afternoonAll of us there trooped outAmong the briar hedges and stripped thorn,I take my stand again, halt oppositeAnahorish Hill to scan the blue,Back in that field to launch our long-tailed comet.And now it hovers, tugs, veers, dives askew,Lifts itself, goes with the wind untilIt rises to loud cheers from us below.Rises, and my hand is like a spindleUnspooling, the kite a thin-stemmed flowerClimbing and carrying, carrying farther, higherThe longing in the breast and planted feetAnd gazing face and heart of the kite flierUntil string breaks and—separate, elate—The kite takes off, itself alone, a windfall.'A Kite for Aibhín'. Taken from 'Human Chain' by Seamus Heaney(Published by Faber & Faber Limited, 2010)

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