from Beowulf, trans. Seamus Heaney 

Next the king ordered eight horses
with gold bridles to be brought through the yard
into the hall.

**

Eight huge beautiful snorting restive battle horses milling around inside a mead-hall. I couldn't stop imagining them. And then my poem for them rushed out.

**

from "The Given Note," by Seamus Heaney

For he had gone alone into the island
And brought back the whole thing.
The house throbbed like his full violin.