Belfast-born poet Michael Longley shares insights on the friendships and places that have inspired his work in a new documentary.
The intimate and often poignant programme sees the award-winning writer discuss his work and how it often captured “important people, places and moments in his life”.
It is part of a new BBC Northern Ireland documentary that explores the mystery of where poems come from.
Longley, born in 1939, has published many acclaimed poetry collections including The Weather in Japan and The Stairwell.
He is best known for poems including Ceasefire and The Ice-Cream Man.
“The makers of this film could not have been more responsive to my poems,” said the poet.
“They delve deep between the lines and illuminate them.
“With great subtlety they suggest the mystery of where poems come from.”
Regarded as one of Ireland’s best-known poets, Mr Longley describes his work as ‘a series of love poems’, which is reflected throughout the documentary.
It captures pivotal moments in his life, including meeting his wife Edna, an author and literary critic, while studying together at Trinity College in Dublin and his close friendship with Seamus and Marie Heaney.
Michael and Edna Longley & guests attend a @BBCnireland screening of Michael Longley – Where Poems Comes From. The film, which provides a revealing insight into the places, friendships and experiences that have inspired award-winning poet, comes to @BBCiPlayer on Sun, Feb 11. pic.twitter.com/NgWjqC4xqI
— BBC Northern Ireland Comms (@bbcnipress) February 8, 2024
The documentary also highlights his experience of living in Belfast at the height of the Troubles.
While he was reluctant to write about the conflict, the documentary looks at how it affected him personally and led him to write some of his most thought-provoking poems, including The Ice-Cream Man.
He also talks about finding his own unique voice writing about flowers, wildlife and landscapes, particularly those in the quiet countryside surrounding the cottage at Carrigskeewaun in Co Mayo, where he visits regularly.
The documentary also focuses on how Mr Longley has been inspired by the classical world and its texts as well as being drawn to poetry from the First and Second World Wars.
When his father was badly wounded in the First World War, he taught himself to play the harmonica in the trenches.
This inspired him to write Harmonica, which he describes as his “favourite poem”.
Adam Low, who directed the documentary, said it was a privilege to talk with the poet.
“His radiant poems about the natural world are so inspiring for a film-maker, and his deeply humane response to the political violence in Northern Ireland - and elsewhere - is extremely moving,” he said.
“His lifelong love of jazz and his relationship with his wife Edna (‘I’m the only poet I know whose married to a critic’) gave the film both humour and heart, and his energy at 84 is simply remarkable.”
This film will be available on BBC iPlayer from February 11 and will be broadcast on BBC One NI on February 12 at 10.40pm.
