The Essential Poems
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Northwestern University Press
Publishing:15th May '26
£17.99
This title is due to be published on 15th May, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
The essential selected works of Ireland's leading poet, Micheal O'Siadhail
With an illustrious literary career that has spanned over fifty years, renowned poet Micheal O'Siadhail has cemented his place on the international stage. From his debut collection, The Leap Year (1978), to his latest collection, Desire (2023), O'Siadhail captures evolving struggles with love, faith, and humanity. Here, spanning the entirety of his outstanding career, is the essence of his masterful body of work.
The Essential Poems voyages through traditional and innovative poetic forms, investigating love and passion, joy and loss, world-shaping events and personal experiences. O'Siadhail sounds the depths of meaning and evokes wonder, surprise, anguish, and delight. A lyrical meditation on the relationships between humanity and nature, despair and faith, and the richness of courage in the acts of healing completes what proves to be this unforgettable and necessary collection of the inimitable Irish poet.
"Just as the world wearies and worries us with its pervasive God awfulness, along comes the rebirth of faith in humanity that is Micheal O'Siadhail's utterly, utterly wonderful collection, The Essential Poems. My heavy heart lifts, and to quote the poet himself, 'explodes in an endless thank-you', for here is proof of an indomitable essence that will not submit to the inevitability of self-inflicted misery but will insist like Dante that we will see the stars again. O'Siadhail is the Dante of our day."—Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, 1997-2011
"In one of the poems in this book, Micheal O'Siadhail speaks of a 'fathoming of wonder', and this phrase aptly describes his poetic imperative. These poems are intellectually curious; emotionally resonant; linguistically rich and beautifully formed. They explore the macrocosm and microcosm of human experience and repay multiple readings. This book is a very real treasure."—Eugene O'Brien, Mary Immaculate College
"A deeply humane poet, Micheal O'Siadhail hits a new high in this wonderfully harmonious collection—a truly enjoyable and sensorial experience for all of us to share in these troubled times." —Jerry White, humanitarian activist, author, and diplomat
ISBN: 9780810149793
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 454g
96 pages