A Kite for Michael and Christopher: Plot

‘A Kite for Michael and Christopher’ – Plot Overview

‘A Kite for Michael and Christopher’ is a poem from Seamus Heaney’s collection, ‘Station Island’. This poem subtly reflects on the poet’s relationship with his children in the context of the broader questions of life, art, and creativity.

The poem begins with an image of a red kite being flown, its tail simply “a single string”. Here, Heaney applies the symbol of a kite to express his consideration and affection towards his children.
Heaney recalls a memory of his father, showing his sons a kite. He details how he himself had once been taught by his father to prepare the kite, focusing on details like intricate tethering and width.

As the kite soars, it represents the sons’ lives that have the potential to be so great yet also so fragile. This is emphasised by the detailed descriptions of the kite being flown against the wind.

In the end, Heaney suggests freeing the kite, which may be taken as an acknowledgment of the inevitable independence of his children. This is a profound statement about the necessity of letting go at some point, despite the underlying fears.

This is a reflective and contemplative poem, moving through many emotions, from love and hope to fear and acceptance. In many ways, the kite’s journey mirrors the trajectory of a parent’s hopes and fears for a child.
Through the poem, Heaney also meditates on the relationship between the mundane and the universal, the temporary and the permanent. This is evident in the motifs of the kite and the winds, which Heaney uses to explore broader questions of life and existence.