"A keeper of the artistic estate, a custodian of griefs and wonders."
- Seamus Heaney

Michael Longley has shaped the landscape of Irish and English poetry for decades and eulogies will abound following the very saddening news of his passing yesterday. We're always culturally poorer for the passing of an artistic voice and no doubt his loss will be felt deeply within the poetry community for some time yet.

Fifteen years ago I began exploring the process of 'After' poetry. It had begun several years earlier when I incidentally began an improvisatory collaboration with an America artist. At the same time I had also been in a poetic conversational exploration of Gogyōka which led to an introduction to its creator Enta Kusakabe. An intense and prolific period of exploratory writing ensued. It felt a natural progression to then delve into the works of Yeats and Eliot. I felt technically grounded to allow myself this kind of exploration as I was seeking too some orientation for myself as to where I stood as a poet - not in terms of 'standing', but in terms of an articulate artistic voice. And so I ventured into the Michael Longley 'soulscape': I'd let go of the idea of prize-winning publication, pretty much of publication itself to be frank. I found myself far more interested in process and opened my curiosity to simply exploring, without expectation of a 'result'.
Of all the work that emerged during this time, one particular poem by Michael Longley reached to my core, for reasons of my own political history: The Ice Cream Man
This short, simple work sat with and within me for the longest time, until I understood what it stirred within me. It's symbolism to me was immense and was its socio-political inferences. I was raised in South Africa under Apartheid and this work, crafted in the naming of 21 wild flowers brought to the fore a recollection from my childhood; that I never once saw a 'black' child eat ice cream. Instead a school boy shot in the back framed the proscenium of my youth.
And so in homage to Michael Longley, 'keeper of the artistic estate', as 'custodian of griefs and wonders', this is my thank you for the gift you will forever be to poets and poetry.

With deepest condolences to his wife, children, family, friends and all his associates.
Thank you for sharing your soul landscape with such generosity and abundance.
From the heart, an always appreciative apprentice, Amantine.
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