The great poet Seamus Heaney died recently, sparking an outpouring of well-deserved tributes.

The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/31/arts/seamus-heaney-acclaimed-irish-poet-dies-at-74.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/01/seamus-heaney-roy-foster-appreciation  and http://www.theguardian.com/books/seamusheaney

The Paris Review: http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/1217/the-art-of-poetry-no-75-seamus-heaney

I had the great privilege of interviewing Mr. Heaney many years ago  after writing about his work. Hearing him read in that beautifully sonorous voice and hearing him discuss other poets, especially his contemporaries, was unforgettable, as was his gracious manner.

His last words were “Noli timere”–“Do not be afraid”–and they were texted to his wife.