Moments of Happiness Despite the variety of cultures and lifestyles around the world, there remains a unique element that is an integral part of every heritage: the universal language of joy. The little things in life really are what count, as any wise child could tell you, and it is through these experiences that you grow as an individual. For example, in his poem “Blackberry-Picking,” Seamus Heaney makes use of strong tactile imagery and sensual poetic devices, including diction and rhythm, to appeal to the reader's most intimate, childlike senses, thus connecting with the reader on a deeper and deeper level. personal level; through this connection, Heaney discovers the most basic and natural human instinct: greed. Heaney conveys a deeper understanding of the mechanics of life and human nature as a whole through his deceptively simple description of blackberry picking. Such an innocuous action takes on a deeper symbolism as Heaney describes the “stains on the tongue and the longing to / Gather” (lines 7-8). Such lust is part of human behavior; by nature, human beings are never truly satisfied with what they have, their natural greed cannot be satisfied. The blackberry pickers in the poem are sent out "with milk cans, pea cans, jam jars" (Heaney 9) to take as many berries as they can fit into their containers. The use of spondee in this particular line not only draws the reader's attention to the action taking place, but also places emphasis on the common household objects mentioned, introducing a sense of familiarity into the first stanza of the poem. Furthermore, the poet relies on such intense visual and tangible images to promote this personal feeling. Candidly referring to blackberries as “a shiny purple clot / Among others, red, green, hard as a knot” (3-4), Heaney is inspired by a similar episode that most young children experience when first exposed to aimed at a sweet brunette. time, a reference further strengthened by the forced use of the final rhyme. The sensual and melodious diction of the entire first verse creates a smooth flow reminiscent of natural human instincts, thus solidifying the theory that such anticipatory greed is an innate part of human behavior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay What can be considered the strongest element of Seamus Heaney's masterpiece is the sudden and dramatic change of mood that occurs in the first lines of the second stanza. Instead of being vivid, captivating and reminiscent of childhood, the poem takes on a macabre and disgusting air; the once succulent fruit is now invaded by “a gray rat fungus” (Heaney 19). Such disgusting images are in drastic contrast to the sweet, juicy fruit portrayed in the first stanza of the poem, reflecting the inevitable changes brought about by the passage of time. Verbal irony only reinforces this statement when Heaney proclaims “that all the nice tins smelled of rot” (22), a sardonic statement which, by contrast, underlines the exact opposite of what was said. As a direct result of the zealous greed of blackberry pickers, their fruit is doomed to rot. The narrator is fully aware of the impending results of his sinful greed, yet “every year [he] hoped they would continue, but he knew they would not” (Heaney 24). Man tries to assert his dominion over nature by playing with it, bargaining with an inflexible force. All in all, Seamus Heaney aims to capture the moments of.