One interpretation is that the pen symbolizes the speaker's desire to connect with his father and his Irish roots. The speaker's father is a farmer and the speaker himself is a writer, so the pen symbolizes the speaker's desire to connect with his father through writing. Another interpretation is that the pen symbolizes the speaker's desire to connect with the land and his Irish roots. The speaker's father is a farmer and the land is very important to the Irish culture, so the pen symbolizes the speaker's desire to connect with the land through writing."