The substance from green apples

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Marius Hancu - 29 Jun 2008 14:07 GMT

Hello:

Re: "his coercion of the substance from green apples"?

Does this have to do with squashing and distilling some alcoholic
beverage from green apples?

Also, the "boule" in the last stanza: could this be the projectile of
a balista?

--------
An Artist

I love the thought of his anger.
His obstinacy against the rock, his coercion
of the substance from green apples.

The way he was a dog barking
at the image of himself barking.
And his hatred of his own embrace
of working as the only thing that worked –
the vulgarity of expecting ever
gratitude or admiration, which
would mean a stealing from him.

The way his fortitude held and hardened
because he did what he knew.
His forehead like a hurled boule
travelling unpainted space
behind the apple and behind the mountain.

--Seamus Heaney, p. 259
--------

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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John O'Flaherty - 29 Jun 2008 18:01 GMT

>Hello:
>
>Re: "his coercion of the substance from green apples"?
>
>Does this have to do with squashing and distilling some alcoholic
>beverage from green apples?

Most apples that are green are unripe and harder and not as sweet as
ripe ones. I think the figure describes a man who would get what he
wanted whether the situation was ripe or not. About the same as
"obstinacy against the rock". However, the title, "An Artist",
suggests that he is painting the apples and the rock, so "coercion of
the substance" may mean that he is painting apples so as to make them
appear very real.

>Also, the "boule" in the last stanza: could this be the projectile of
>a balista?

Perhaps the large, heavy steel ball in this kind of game:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boules

So, his forehead is compared to a heavy, steel ball (colorless and
hard) "travelling unpainted space" behind the mountain and apples that
he is painting.

>--------
>An Artist
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>--Seamus Heaney, p. 259
>--------

Signature

John

"Or, on ze uzzer hand, maybe not."

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jun 2008 11:57 GMT

> >Re: "his coercion of the substance from green apples"?
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> ripe ones. I think the figure describes a man who would get what he
> wanted whether the situation was ripe or not.

OK, it may be it.

> About the same as
> "obstinacy against the rock".

Right.

> >Also, the "boule" in the last stanza: could this be the projectile of
> >a balista?
>
> Perhaps the large, heavy steel ball in this kind of game:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boules

A Frech reference ... Interesting, I couldn't quite believe it.

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

Reply to this Message

Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 30 Jun 2008 12:35 GMT

>>Hello:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>Perhaps the large, heavy steel ball in this kind of game:
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boules

I think it likely that Heaney, an Irishman, has in mind the type
of ball used in Irish Road Bowling. This is not a well-know
sport so he has used the more familiar word "boule". The weight
of the road bowl is similar to that of a Pétanque boule:
http://www.irishroadbowling.ie/about.htm

Irish Road Bowling Association
Bol Chumann na hEireann

Bowl playing, road bowling, road bowls. The terms are
familiar to all followers of the sport. To the uninitiated,
the variation in descriptive terminology serves to generate
intrigue with a competitive game which is unique in its
history.

Tradition, style and proven clarity to survive social and
cultural changes of passing generations.

The sport Road Bowling Ball is played with a 28 oz. (793.8
grams) solid iron bowl, or ball, with a circumference of
approximately 18 centimetres. Two contestants match their
individual skills in throwing the bowl with optimum speed,
controlled delivery, and international accuracy along a
carefully considered and tactically selected play-path over
a predetermined course distance of normal roadway. The
winner is the player to reach the finishing line in the
least number of throws or shots.

Course distances vary in accordance with the nature of the
contest, which nowadays are usually around four kilometres
in length. A score, or match, between two road bowlers may
be watched by anything from several dozen spectators to many
thousands, depending upon the importance of the event and
the attraction of the particular pairing involved.

In Ireland numerous bowling courses exist in counties Armagh
and Cork (where the sport is more prevalent) and also in
Mayo (Castlebar), Limerick, Waterford and Louth.

In more recent times courses (roads) have been developed in
Tyrone and Wexford and also in London (G.B.). Furthermore
there is now a course in Boston (U.S.A.).

The game is also referred to as "long bullets" or, in County
Armagh, simply "bullets".

The game seems to developed on winding rural roads.

>So, his forehead is compared to a heavy, steel ball (colorless and
>hard) "travelling unpainted space" behind the mountain and apples that
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>>--Seamus Heaney, p. 259
>>--------

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Don Phillipson - 29 Jun 2008 18:57 GMT

> Re: "his coercion of the substance from green apples"?
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Also, the "boule" in the last stanza: could this be the projectile of a
> balista?

Coercing the substance from green apples sounds like
operation of a cider press, viz. hard and heavy work.

Boule cf. boules, the French game of bowls as played in
southern France and northern Italy, different from English
bowls because it can be played anywhere, e.g. on
sand, grass, gravel or asphalt. The jack (target ball) is
small, about the size of a golf ball, and the players' boules
are made of steel, a little smaller than a cricket ball,
engraved with a network design. Boules may be thrown
hard (i.e. are not delivered solely by rolling along the
surface as in English bowls.)

Signature

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

>
> --------
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

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John Holmes - 30 Jun 2008 12:01 GMT

> Boule cf. boules, the French game of bowls as played in
> southern France and northern Italy, different from English
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> hard (i.e. are not delivered solely by rolling along the
> surface as in English bowls.)

Also known as Pétanque, which is an accurate description of what it
sounds like.

Signature

Regards
John
for mail: my initials plus a u e
at tpg dot com dot au

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / June 2008

The substance from green apples