Far side Quote by Seamus Heaney
““Human beings suffer, They torture one another, They get hurt and get hard. No poem or play or song Can fully right a wrong Inflicted and endured. The innocent in gaols Beat on their bars together. A hunger-striker's father Stands in the graveyard dumb. The police widow in veils Faints at the funeral home. History says, don't hope On this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme. So hope for a great sea-change On the far side of revenge. Believe that further shore Is reachable from here. Believe in miracle And cures and healing wells. Call miracle self-healing: The utter, self-revealing Double-take of feeling. If there's fire on the mountain Or lightning and storm And a god speaks from the sky That means someone is hearing The outcry and the birth-cry Of new life at its term.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Longed-For Tidal Wave of Justice”, unpublished, 1990s
Human suffering and injustice persist, but hope for transformative justice exists, driven by collective yearning and belief in miracles.
In simple terms: Suffering is pervasive, yet hope for justice remains.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate hope and act for justice.
Themes
suffering
justice
hope
miracle
collective action
Mood
somber
hopeful
Type
poetic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- activism
- community healing
- policy reform
- personal resilience
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
poetry
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What concrete steps can turn hope into justice?
- How do personal miracles relate to societal change?
A Different Perspective
Hope alone may not address systemic issues without concrete action.
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