Or, as we said,
fother, I open
my arms for it
again. But first
to draw from the tight
vise of a stack
the weathered eaves
of the stack itself
falling at your feet,
last summer's tumbled
swathes of grass
and meadowsweet
multiple as loaves
and fishes, a bundle
tossed over half-doors
or into mucky gaps.
These long nights
I would pull hay
for comfort, anything
to bed the stall
The poem has a simple structure through which Heaney's childhood memories are expressed. It has a nostalgic vibe to it as he reflects on his past. The word "fodder" is an informal noun for food, but it's not luxurious, rather it's more of a "fuel" to keep an individual going. It's more practical than attractive. The second stanza suggests comfort from routine as he puts hay in an animal's stall. The tone of the poem is rather conversational which makes it feel more personal. Furthermore, the pronoun "we" is used in the beginning to refer to Heaney's family and the people around him.
The third stanza is filled with sibilance as seen in words like "last," "summer," "swathes" and "grass." This could be referring to the sound of harvest.
In the past.
Phonetic spelling whose dialect could be reminding the reader about Ireland being under English influence.
Yearning to go back. Written in the present tense.
Suggesting routine.
To hold in place. Could suggest entrapment.
Possibly religious imagery as it ties in with his previous statement about openning his "arms for it" which is what Jesus did, and the disciples would fall at his feet.
Falling. Could refer to fallen soldiers.
Ties in with the religious imagery above.
Careless, instinctual.
Stable doors.
Not wanting to solve the problem, rather hide it and forget about it.
Suggesting he is desperate for comfort.