In 1995, Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

As a tribute, Michael Holohan set the poem ‘No Sanctuary’ from A Northern Hoard 4to music – performed here by The Lindsay Singers.

It’s my perfect Halloween song.

It’s Hallowe’en. The turnip-man’s lopped head

Blazes at us through split bottle glass

And fumes and swims up like a wrecker’s lantern.

Death mask of harvest, mocker at All Souls

With scorching smells, red dog’s eyes in the night－

We ring and stare into unhallowed light.

Seamus Heaney, North, 1975

Some five years later, I learned it in my school choir. And promptly – as is my want – forgot it’s name.

An undisclosed number of years later, in 2011, a chance encounter with a friend and fellow choir member led to a name. Finally – I could track the dratted thing down. And I blogged about it.

Every year since then, I’ve forgotten not only the name but the fact that I’ve blogged it and end up pestering my mates. But this year – I remembered. 2020…best year ever, eh…

Anyhoo, the brother called me up so I could watch the younglings trick or treat inside the house. Those lucky kids have some very generous toys (and a very quick witted and creative mom!).

And I’ve just watched the Sarah Cooper special ‘Everything’s fine’ on Netflix.

Much more surreal than I was expecting; delighted to see some of the ‘familiar’ voice overs but this absolutely wasn’t dependent upon them; the cameos were fantastic; funny but often in that ‘I laugh to not cry’ way but more than that – it’s incredibly sharp. Do watch!

I hope you have a very Happy and Quiet Halloween.