Like Follower but refers to grandfather and father. Heaney challenges stereotype of Paddy with a spade - recognizes the truth in the stereotype, but shows skill and dignity in digging. We see work ethic - father still digging in old age, grandfather barely stops to drink. Back to top Technique Poem has a looser structure than Follower and looks at two memories - the father digging the potato drills, the grandfather digging turf, for which he was famous as the best digger on the peat bog. The poet celebrates not so much their strength as their expertise.
Poem begins almost as it ends, but only at end is pen seen as weapon for digging.
Poem is about how we lose innocence. In fact the young Heaney's reaction is the one the poet really approves. Now, he writes, he has a similar indifference to the death of animals. Some striking details. Title is a country expression for emptying one's bowels - this idea is developed in the reference to dung.