Continuation Through Change

I loved the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney! The first time I read it I didn’t think it was very deep, but the second time I started reading into it. The second line, “The squat pen rests; snug as a gun” offers a couple of different ideas. The writer could utilize his “gun” as a tool to shine light on evils in the world. He could express his opinions and bring attention to specific abuses in society. This weapon could, quite possibly, lead to the writer’s demise, either of his public life or his private one. If he writes something that is highly controversial or criticized harshly he could lose his credibility as an author. Also, we learn that writing is definitely not his family’s profession and this could drive a stake between him and his relatives.

The description of him watching his father work struck me as sad. It was almost as if he wanted to help but could not. He was separated from his father, seemingly due to their differences. The writer also reminisces about a memory of him helping his grandfather; he was not able to assist with the work itself, he could only bring refreshment. The diction attests to the fact that he greatly admires his father and his grandfather as well as the work that they perform. He praises their proficiency prolifically throughout the work.

In the second to last stanza the author discusses displeasures of the job his forefathers are dedicated to and he ends by saying that he has “no spade to follow men like that”. He is unable to perform as his ancestors did, but he still holds a great deal of respect for them. The author concludes his work by equating his pen to the shovel used by his father and grandfather. He will continue their work but in his own personal way.