Two volumes that showcase the rich depth of Irish poetry

Gerard Smyth's 11th collection is a superb addition to a singular oeuvre

Michael Longley: his poems have a transcendent luminosity
Seán McSweeney (left) and Gerard Smyth Pic: Barry Cronin

Poetry: Angel Hill; By Michael Longley; Jonathan Cape Poetry, €11.50

The Yellow River: By Gerard Smyth; paintings by Seán McSweeney; Solstice Arts Centre, €20

Poetry, by its nature, is a solitary art, although not always composed in solitary places or without collaborative influences. It can be located in or inspired by particular landscapes – whether physical places of refuge or a vanished mental childhood locales – ...