Digging by Seamus Heaney

What types of words the Heaney uses in his poem Digging? What connotations are present?

The words that Heaney uses in this poem are very powerful. Seamus Heaney is thinking about his roots remembering his father and grandfather and the things they valued. He is questioning whether his work (as a writer) is as valuable - as manly - as worthy as theirs. He obviously shares his father and grandfather's view that hard work which is symbolized by the digging; are essential if a person is to have any real pride. At the beginning of the poem the two men are working: Seamus is writing - his tool is the pen. He becomes conscious of his father at work in the garden. He admires the quality of his father's work. Seeing his father at work in the garden reminds him of his childhood as he watched his father planting potatoes with the same expertise and thoroughness.

Seamus realizes that this pride in work had been passed on to his father by his father. He reminisces about his grandfather, recalling his heroic reputation as the outstanding turf cutter of his day. It is this thought - his worry that he as a writer no longer seems to follow the traditional type of work of his family - that has prompted the poem. In the last three lines (which almost repeat the first two lines) Seamus makes a firm statement. His work as a writer is just as valid. "I'll dig with it" (the pen). Also, One of the phrase that says the squat pen rests; snug as a gun I think what he means is that his pen is very powerful just like a gun is when you are at war.