Personal Helicon by Seamus Heaney

This poem was written by Seamus Heaney, an Irish professor. It really sounds to me like a 'middle-aged' poem; it was written at a point where there was a lack of direction. I don't think I'm quite there yet. My life seems so perfectly planned out for me, but I'm certain that in everyone's life there comes a point where you sit and wonder how you got there, to that point in life, and ponder your next step. This is why people get sex changes at 40! The author's diction felt eloquent, yet still impressive and interesting which contributed to the middle-aged, mature style. Anyway, there are plenty of poems out there that speak of direction, but "Personal Helicon" stood out in the way in which it was written. The authors uses metaphors and symbolism to emphasize his point. The well, for instance, is symbolic of a dark time in one's life when it is hard to see one's identity. The flower and root are symbolic of the flower being the facade or one's appearance, and the roots being one's hidden qualities and strengths. The use of symbolism and metaphors gave the poem a sense of an unclear setting... almost like fog. Which in itself is another symbol. The poem had a nice tone to it; it felt somber, perhaps a little melancholy even, yet there was a nice sense of indignation to it. Almost like the author was realizing he wanted a change of direction, yet acknowledged it was in his control. I really enjoyed this poem. I felt like it effectively conveyed a message while still connecting with an audience.