In this essay I will compare the presentation of family in diggingwith at least one other poem in identity. I have chosen to select Follower.

... In this essay I will compare the presentation of family in digging with at least one other poem in identity. I have chosen to select Follower. The title of the poem Digging could refer to turning over soil for planting or harvesting, or digging deeper to uncover some sort of treasure. Alternatively the poet could be thinking of digging up the past, or uncovering some secret hidden in the past. The poem is written from the poet's perspective and there is no doubt that this poem is about a writer for in the opening lines we learn that: 'Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests...' The poet is writing in his room which is upstairs and overlooks the garden. His attention is caught by the 'clean rasping sound' of a spade digging into the 'gravelly ground'. The poet looks out and sees his father digging as he has done

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