Seamus Heaney's tenth poetry collection, Seeing Things, revolves around the theme of traversing between worlds. Bookended by translations of passages highlighting entry into the underworld, the collection invites us into realms of wonder and insight. The poems, rich in detail, reveal transcendent moments and alternate realities.

Introduction and Conclusion

The collection opens with a translation of the "Golden Bough" passage from the Aeneid, detailing the quest for the bough that grants access to the underworld. Similarly, it concludes with a translation from Dante's Inferno, focusing on the journey across the river Styx with Charon. These framing pieces establish a motif of crossing thresholds to uncover hidden wonders and wisdom, setting a thematic tone that resonates throughout the book.

Part 1: Journeys and Transformations

Part 1 interlaces its lyrics with these translations, exploring journeys into other realms. In "The Journey Back," the protagonist is not an epic hero, but a contemporary poet, Philip Larkin, who finds his world unchanged upon returning. Despite this, he carries the experience of having "seen poetry," an encounter with a world governed by imagination rather than the mundane routine.

"Markings" presents a series of brief poems about defining spaces, like a soccer field marked by "four jackets." This ordinary scene transcends to a dreamlike state where participants experience timelessness, suggesting a magical moment outside the everyday.

Ordinary and Extraordinary

"Three Drawings" portrays common activities such as soccer and fishing, highlighting transformation in "The Point," where the speaker wonders if it was the boy or the ball that soared "amazingly higher." This unity and uncontrollable freedom reflect the themes of "Markings," where the boundaries between player and plaything blur.

In "Man and Boy," the poem navigates the shifting roles between father and son. The narrative weaves their experiences, creating a haunting sense of wonder as generations blend. The poet's reflections capture the fluidity of roles and the continuous movement between different life stages.

Clarity and Revelation

The title poem, split into three parts, explores "Claritas," a term borrowed from Joyce signifying brightness and revelation. The poem vividly describes a stone facade of a cathedral depicting Jesus's baptism, "lines hard and thin" illustrating the river. The poem transcends the physical, as the heat and air become manifestations of life itself, epitomizing the collection's ability to reveal extraordinary worlds through ordinary sights.

Exploring Contrast

"Pitchfork" transforms an everyday farm tool into a symbol of perfection beyond functionality. The poem suggests mastery lies not in control but in relinquishing it, echoing a Zen philosophy of achieving perfection through detachment from desire.

"The Skylight" humorously juxtaposes differing views on a skylight installation. The male speaker, initially resistant to change, finds transformation in the openness, likening it to a healing act, which alters his perception of his previously enclosed world.

Faith and Marvel

"Fosterling," the final poem of part 1, contrasts heaviness with the "brightness" of newfound belief. Initially depicting the weight of "being," the poem shifts as faith allows the speaker to embrace a sense of marvel, transforming his view of the world.

Part 2: Squarings and Definitions

Part 2, titled "Squarings," continues exploring dualities. "Lightenings," the second poem, delves into definitions, evolving from simple illumination to a moment of spiritual enlightenment before death. This theme is encapsulated in the story of the good thief next to Christ, whose transformation is evoked through Christ's words, highlighting the power of language to transcend states of being.

Poem 18 examines the allure and illusion of freedom through the figure of a rope-man. His itinerant lifestyle fascinates but also "menaced" the farmers with its lack of stability, revealing the tension between...