The Speaker

The speaker of the poem is defined by the pen they hold, and it is suggested that they are a writer. This could be read as autobiographical of the poet, Seamus Heaney, but in this context they could easily be another type of writer such as a novelist or a playwright. The speaker considers the place their craft has in their agricultural lineage. There is a divide between the speaker and their father, but this is expressed with admiration, rather than hostility or disconnection as one might expect from a coming-of-age poem. As the poem progresses, the speaker finds their place within a family and a heritage.

The Father

The father does not take an active role or consciousness in the poem, but his presence looms over the speaker’s thoughts. He is an agricultural worker who is intrinsically tied to the land, taking after his own...