Seamus Heaney

Electric Light

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1979


To the Shade of Zbigniew Herbert

You were one of those from the back of the north wind
Whom Apollo favoured and would keep going back to
In the winter season. And among your people you
Remained his herald whenever he'd departed
And the land was silent and summer's promise thwarted.
You learnt the lyre from him and kept it tuned.