# data[].attributes.body
Pushing forward into his own personality, life and hobbies

# data[].attributes.body
Although he wants to write he also has a large amount of respect for his father, grandfather and ancestors.

# data[].attributes.body
The generations coming into consciousness.

# data[].attributes.headline
His family don't believe that writing is a career

# data[].attributes.subject
His family don't believe that writing is a career

# data[].attributes.body
aware of the tension and distress that was to come... war, fights, religion

# data[].attributes.body
potato famine

# data[].attributes.body
Working hard outside vs working peacefully inside

Pen vs Gun (both can cause distress/show messages)

Pen vs Turf-Spade (both make marks)

# data[].attributes.body
The idea of different rewards (potatoes, a successful poem or acceptance of his poems, milk, good turf)  and  the idea of overcoming obstacles (tall tops, possibly the difficult stage of his writing not being accepted, hard physical labour with digging) to get the rewards.

# data[].attributes.body
At the start of the poem, he compares his pen to a gun which is used for violence and destruction but at the end he compares his pen with his spade saying that he is doing just as good work as his father and grandfather etc...

# data[].attributes.headline
Repeated metaphors create comparisons between writing and digging

# data[].attributes.subject
Repeated metaphors create comparisons between writing and digging

# data[].attributes.body
the poet is in a conflict with what he loves and what he believes his family wants. This poem is a cry for acceptance from his inner demons

# data[].attributes.headline
He has come to realization that, by being a poet he isn't doing anything wrong by not following his father and grandfather as it is his talent.

# data[].attributes.subject
He has come to realization that, by being a poet he isn't doing anything wrong by not following his father and grandfather as it is his talent.

# data[].attributes.body
Internal and
pressure because at that time most people used to farm.

# data[].attributes.body
Should he live up to the expectations of his ancestors or should he follow his passion

# data[].attributes.body
Should he follow and fit in with his family? Or should he go outside of the considered norm?

The poem is about him trying to decide on which path to take.

# data[].attributes.headline
if he he was a better man than his grandfather 

# data[].attributes.subject
if he he was a better man than his grandfather 

# data[].attributes.body
Being different from his family. Should he dig or should he create a new path for himself

# data[].attributes.body
history and Irish tradition.
war and potato famine, sustenance

# data[].attributes.body
Family pressure

# data[].attributes.headline
That he wants to write but all his ancestors are diggers

# data[].attributes.subject
That he wants to write but all his ancestors are diggers

# data[].attributes.body
should the son follow in the footsteps of his ancestors