'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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Keeping Going: A Masterpiece of Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney is among the most prominent poets of the modern era, famous for his works that explore the themes of nature, history, and identity. His poem "Keeping Going" is a remarkable example of his skillful portrayal of human emotions and the resilience of the human spirit. Published in 1995, the poem has since become a classic in contemporary literature and a source of inspiration for readers worldwide.

Poem Analysis

The poem "Keeping Going" is a meditation on the struggle of life, its challenges, and the endurance required to overcome them. The poem consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. The structure of the poem is simple, and the language is accessible, but the themes and emotions it evokes are profound.

The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging the hardships of life and the constant pressure to keep moving forward. The first line, "The piper coming from far away is you," establishes a sense of distance and isolation, suggesting that the struggle is personal and internal. The image of the piper, a symbol of the traditional Irish culture, adds a layer of nostalgia and longing to the poem.

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The line "You are the answer" implies that the speaker is looking for a solution or a way out of the struggle. However, the answer is not external, but within oneself. The repetition of the phrase "keep going" emphasizes the importance of persistence and determination in the face of adversity.

The third stanza introduces the theme of nature, with the image of birds migrating south for the winter. The line "The ocean's ploy to be seen through, it can't be done" suggests that nature is too vast and complex to be fully understood or controlled. The speaker acknowledges his own limitations and the need to accept the natural order of things.

The fourth stanza is perhaps the most poignant in the poem, with the speaker reflecting on the loss of loved ones and the pain of grief. The line "You are the arrow, the dew that flies, suicidal, at one with the drive" compares the speaker to an arrow that is launched towards its target, with no control over its fate. The reference to suicide adds a sense of desperation and hopelessness, but the phrase "at one with the drive" suggests a sense of determination and purpose.

The fifth stanza returns to the theme of nature, with the image of the snow falling on the fields. The line "The land leans and heaves, lifts off from itself to fall" creates a vivid sense of movement and instability. The speaker seems to be suggesting that change is inevitable and that one must adapt to survive.

The final stanza concludes the poem with a sense of acceptance and resignation. The line "You are the one deep inland" suggests a sense of isolation and detachment from the rest of the world. The reference to the "inveterate" voices implies a sense of familiarity and continuity, as if the struggle has been ongoing and will continue indefinitely. The final line, "But keep going," is a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit.

Interpretation

"Keeping Going" is a deeply personal and emotional poem that explores the universal themes of struggle and resilience. The poem speaks to the human experience of facing challenges and setbacks, and the need to keep moving forward. The repetition of the phrase "keep going" emphasizes the importance of determination and persistence, even in the face of adversity.

The poem also explores the theme of nature, suggesting that the natural order of things is beyond human control. The image of birds migrating and the snow falling on the fields create a sense of movement and change, emphasizing the need to adapt and evolve to survive.

The poem is also deeply rooted in the Irish culture and history, with references to the traditional Irish piper and the inveterate voices. The poem can be read as a reflection on the Irish struggle for independence and the ongoing challenges faced by the Irish people.

Ultimately, "Keeping Going" is a celebration of the human spirit and the ability to endure and overcome. The poem is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and the possibility of a brighter future.

Conclusion

Seamus Heaney's "Keeping Going" is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry, skillfully exploring the themes of struggle, resilience, and the human spirit. The poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. The simple structure and accessible language of the poem belie its profound themes and emotions, making it a classic of modern literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, inspire change, and capture the essence of the human experience. Seamus Heaney, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was a master of this craft. His poem "Keeping Going" is a testament to his ability to capture the complexities of life and the human spirit.

"Keeping Going" is a poem that speaks to the struggles and challenges of life. It is a poem that acknowledges the difficulties we face, but also encourages us to persevere. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of life.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Heaney writes, "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 under your elbow." This opening stanza is a vivid description of a man carrying a bagpipe. The man is described as coming from far away, which suggests that he has been on a long journey. The fact that he is carrying a kitchen chair upside down on his shoulder adds to the sense of disorientation and confusion. The man is clearly struggling, but he is still moving forward.

The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker's own struggles. He writes, "You are the man who squats among the ferns / And sets up home in the heather / Wanderer's way of life, born of necessity, / The stealthy look of one who survives / Ready at any moment to fend off / The actual with the vital shield / And the spiked staff." This stanza is a reflection on the speaker's own life. He is described as a wanderer, someone who has had to adapt to survive. The "spiked staff" is a symbol of his determination to protect himself and his way of life.

The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Heaney writes, "Taking the strain as the horse-hooves dollop, / You walk keeping slow time with the horse / Or the heifer that's the same age as the house / Or the dog that's wet through and shaking / The common rhythm of their hoof and footfall / Is the music of what happens." This stanza is a reminder that life is a journey, and that we must keep moving forward. The "horse-hooves dollop" is a symbol of the passage of time, and the need to keep pace with it. The "music of what happens" is a reminder that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and that we must be ready to adapt to them.

Overall, "Keeping Going" is a powerful poem that speaks to the struggles and challenges of life. It is a reminder that we must keep moving forward, even in the face of adversity. Heaney's use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism make this poem a timeless classic that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.

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