Seamus Heaney Blackberry-Picking Essay

In the poem “Blackberry-Picking,” Seamus Heaney is able to convey not just a literal description of picking blackberries, but also a deeper understanding of the whole experience. He is able to do this through the use of informal diction, imagery, and similes. The poem begins with the speaker describing one’s feelings when they eat the first blackberries of the season. He states, “You ate the first one and its flesh was sweet.” This usage of “you” brings the reader into the poem. Adding the reader into the poem is one way Heaney is able to convey a deeper understanding of the whole experience. It makes the reader more active and enable him or her to further delve into the work. Thus, Heaney’s usage of informal diction allows him to communicate