And some time make the time to drive out west
Into County Clare, along the Flaggy Shore,
In September or October, when the wind
And the light are working off each other
So that the ocean on one side is wild
With foam and glitter, and inland among stones
The surface of a slate-grey lake is lit
By the earthed lightning of a flock of swans,
Their feathers roughed and ruffling, white on white,
Their fully grown headstrong-looking heads
Tucked or cresting or busy underwater.
Useless to think you’ll park and capture it
More thoroughly. You are neither here nor there,
A hurry through which known and strange things pass
As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways
And catch the heart off guard and blow it open.
A poem that is similar to a sonnet. It features a volta at the adjective "useless." Due to its loose sonnet structure, it could be a sort of love poem towards Ireland. The title suggests an after thought, a retrospective thought, perhaps involving him reflecting upon his purpose in life.
From the poetry collection "Spirit Level" which deals with emotions and retrospective thoughts.
Repetition of the noun "time" to indicate that he values his time.
Reference to journey and memory, perhaps metaphorical for the journey through life.
The West.
Northern part of Ireland. Reference to a Viking landscape.
Representing the end of an era.
Nature working in a harmonious way.
Same as above.
Estuary.
Migration. Another reference to journey.
Yet another reference to journey.
Referring to life itself and how he uses poetry to capture it.
The insignificance of humans compared to nature.
Perhaps a reference to Strange Fruit and how nature is mysterious.
Nature can be amazing and can really awe you.
Water imagery that could be a religious reference as water is cleansing and pure. Also a possible reference to Anahorish.
Imagery of light. Similar to the golden flecks in Churning Day. Magical and childhood wonder. Cyclical in nature since Churning Day was a childhood memory yet he's thinking in the same sense of wonder again towards the end of his life.