'Keeping Going' by Seamus Heaney
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The piper coming from far away is you
With a whitewash brush for a sporran
Wobbling round you, a kitchen chair
Upside down on your shoulder, your right arm
Pretending to tuck the bag beneath your elbow,
Your pop-eyes and big cheeks nearly bursting
With laughter, but keeping the drone going on
Interminably, between catches of breath.
*
The whitewash brush. An old blanched skirted thing
On the back of the byre door, biding its time
Until spring airs spelled lime in a work-bucket
And a potstick to mix it in with water.
Those smells brought tears to the eyes, we inhaled
A kind of greeny burning and thought of brimstone.
But the slop of the actual job
Of brushing walls, the watery grey
Being lashed on in broad swatches, then drying out
Whiter and whiter, all that worked like magic.
Where had we come from, what was this kingdom
We knew we'd been restored to? Our shadows
Moved on the wall and a tar border glittered
The full length of the house, a black divide
Like a freshly opened, pungent, reeking trench.
*
Piss at the gable, the dead will congregate.
But separately. The women after dark,
Hunkering there a moment before bedtime,
The only time the soul was let alone,
The only time that face and body calmed
In the eye of heaven.
Buttermilk and urine,
The pantry, the housed beasts, the listening bedroom.
We were all together there in a foretime,
In a knowledge that might not translate beyond
Those wind-heaved midnights we still cannot be sure
Happened or not. It smelled of hill-fort clay
And cattle dung. When the thorn tree was cut down
You broke your arm. I shared the dread
When a strange bird perched for days on the byre roof.
*
That scene, with Macbeth helpless and desperate
In his nightmare--when he meets the hags agains
And sees the apparitions in the pot--
I felt at home with that one all right. Hearth,
Steam and ululation, the smoky hair
Curtaining a cheek. 'Don't go near bad boys
In that college that you're bound for. Do you hear me?
Do you hear me speaking to you? Don't forget!'
And then the postick quickening the gruel,
The steam crown swirled, everything intimate
And fear-swathed brightening for a moment,
Then going dull and fatal and away.
*
Grey matter like gruel flecked with blood
In spatters on the whitewash. A clean spot
Where his head had been, other stains subsumed
In the parched wall he leant his back against
That morning like any other morning,
Part-time reservist, toting his lunch-box.
A car came slow down Castle Street, made the halt,
Crossed the Diamond, slowed again and stopped
Level with him, although it was not his lift.
And then he saw an ordinary face
For what it was and a gun in his own face.
His right leg was hooked back, his sole and heel
Against the wall, his right knee propped up steady,
So he never moved, just pushed with all his might
Against himself, then fell past the tarred strip,
Feeding the gutter with his copious blood.
*
My dear brother, you have good stamina.
You stay on where it happens. Your big tractor
Pulls up at the Diamond, you wave at people,
You shout and laugh about the revs, you keep
old roads open by driving on the new ones.
You called the piper's sporrans whitewash brushes
And then dressed up and marched us through the kitchen,
But you cannot make the dead walk or right wrong.
I see you at the end of your tether sometimes,
In the milking parlour, holding yourself up
Between two cows until your turn goes past,
Then coming to in the smell of dung again
And wondering, is this all? As it was
In the beginning, is now and shall be?
Then rubbing your eyes and seeing our old brush
Up on the byre door, and keeping going.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Keeping Going by Seamus Heaney: A Deep Dive Into Resilience
Have you ever felt like giving up, like the weight of life’s challenges is too much to bear? If so, Seamus Heaney’s poem, “Keeping Going” is a must-read. In this classic poem, Heaney offers a powerful message of resilience in the face of adversity. He encourages us to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult the journey may be.
At first glance, “Keeping Going” may appear to be a simple poem about a man walking through a field. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Heaney is conveying a deeper meaning. He uses vivid imagery and clever word choice to create a metaphor for life’s journey.
The poem opens with the lines, “The piper coming from far away/ is you with a white face.” This opening sets the tone for the poem, as Heaney immediately draws the reader in with his use of imagery. The piper represents life’s challenges, which can often seem to come from far away and catch us off guard. The “white face” represents the fear and uncertainty that we may feel when faced with these challenges.
Heaney goes on to describe the man walking through the field, saying that he is “unfailing and deft.” This word choice is significant, as it conveys the man’s resilience and willingness to keep going, even when the journey is difficult. Heaney also uses the word “unfailing” to suggest that the man’s determination is unyielding, no matter how tough the going gets.
As the poem progresses, the man encounters various obstacles, such as “stones that will not shift” and “thick roots tangled in knots.” These obstacles represent the challenges that we all face in life, such as sickness, financial struggles, or relationship issues. However, Heaney emphasizes that the man keeps moving forward, despite these obstacles. He writes, “You are older than you were/ but not more wise.” This line suggests that the man has learned from his experiences, but he has not become bitter or defeated by them.
Heaney also uses the imagery of the “swaying feet” to convey the man’s determination. The phrase “swaying feet” suggests that the man is unsteady, but he is still moving forward, no matter how difficult the journey may be. This metaphor is powerful in its simplicity, as it emphasizes the importance of perseverance and grit.
As the poem comes to a close, Heaney writes, “And how you are breathing/ not quite at ease/ in your dead reckoning.” This final stanza is especially poignant, as it suggests that the man is not quite sure where he is going, but he is still moving forward. The phrase “dead reckoning” refers to the method of navigation used by sailors, which involves estimating one’s position based on previous courses and speeds. This metaphor suggests that the man is relying on his past experiences to guide him through his current challenges.
Overall, “Keeping Going” is a powerful poem that offers a message of resilience and determination. Heaney’s use of vivid imagery and clever word choice creates a metaphor for life’s journey, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and grit. The poem encourages us to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult the journey may be. In a world where it is easy to become discouraged, “Keeping Going” is a reminder of the importance of resilience and determination.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Keeping Going: A Poem of Perseverance and Hope
Seamus Heaney, the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet, is known for his ability to capture the essence of human experience in his poetry. His poem "Keeping Going" is a powerful reflection on the challenges of life and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, language, and structure of this classic poem.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "The piper coming from far away is you." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is addressing himself or someone close to him. The image of the piper coming from far away is a metaphor for the challenges and struggles that we all face in life. The piper is a symbol of hope and perseverance, as he continues to play his music despite the distance he has traveled.
The next line, "Fantastic light spread by the half-moon," introduces the theme of light and darkness that runs throughout the poem. The half-moon is a symbol of the imperfect and incomplete nature of life, as it is only half-illuminated. The "fantastic light" suggests that even in the darkness, there is still beauty and hope to be found.
The second stanza begins with the line, "The houses are haunted by white night-gowns." This image of ghostly night-gowns adds to the sense of unease and uncertainty that permeates the poem. The speaker is suggesting that even in the safety of our own homes, we are haunted by the specter of our own mortality and the challenges that we face.
The next line, "None are green, or dying, or asleep," suggests that there is no escape from the challenges of life. The speaker is reminding us that we must always be alert and aware, even in the moments when we feel safe and secure.
The third stanza begins with the line, "All are standing, or walking, or running." This line suggests that we are all in motion, constantly moving forward in our lives. The image of people standing, walking, and running is a metaphor for the different stages of life that we all go through.
The next line, "All but you unseen, unnoticed," suggests that the speaker feels invisible and overlooked. This is a common feeling for many people, especially when they are going through difficult times. The speaker is reminding us that even when we feel alone and unnoticed, we are still moving forward and making progress.
The fourth stanza begins with the line, "Peer out from some high window, and see." This line suggests that the speaker is urging us to take a step back and look at our lives from a different perspective. By looking out from a high window, we can see the bigger picture and gain a new perspective on our challenges.
The next line, "Aren't there jewels in the night's black crown?" suggests that even in the darkness, there is still beauty and wonder to be found. The image of jewels in a crown is a metaphor for the hidden treasures that we can discover in our lives, even in the midst of our struggles.
The fifth stanza begins with the line, "The tall clock tower has just chimed." This line suggests that time is always moving forward, and that we must keep pace with it. The image of the clock tower is a reminder that our time on earth is limited, and that we must make the most of every moment.
The next line, "Two hours gone," suggests that time is slipping away from us, and that we must make the most of the time we have left. The speaker is urging us to keep moving forward, even when it feels like time is running out.
The final stanza begins with the line, "The train's wheels beat like a heart." This line suggests that the speaker is urging us to keep moving forward, even when it feels like our hearts are breaking. The image of the train's wheels beating like a heart is a metaphor for the resilience and strength that we all possess.
The next line, "And the miles run down behind, like tears," suggests that even when we are moving forward, we are still leaving something behind. The image of the miles running down like tears is a reminder that every step we take is a step away from something that we have lost.
The final line, "Keep going," is a powerful statement of hope and perseverance. The speaker is urging us to keep moving forward, even when it feels like we can't go on. This line is a reminder that we all have the strength and resilience to overcome the challenges that we face in life.
In terms of language, Heaney uses simple, direct language to convey his message. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and urgency, as if the speaker is speaking directly to the reader.
The structure of the poem is also significant. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each with a different focus. This structure gives the poem a sense of progression, as the speaker moves from one idea to the next. The repetition of the phrase "Keep going" at the end of each stanza reinforces the theme of perseverance and hope.
In conclusion, "Keeping Going" is a powerful reflection on the challenges of life and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. Heaney's use of language and structure creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the speaker is speaking directly to the reader. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still hope and beauty to be found, and that we all have the strength and resilience to keep going.
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