Heaney

To me the most striking parts of this poem are the ones in which obedience is spoken of. Heaney forcefully recalls both self loathing an self pity in speaker's acquiescence to the military order and protocol, " little emptier, a little spent/as always by that quiver in the self, /subjugated, yes, and obedient." This point is again powerfully produced in the ending of the poem where one might expect that writing would be a source of encouragement and freedom. Instead the reader only knows " Anonymous submission. " During his experience "behind a waterfall" the speaker not only lost his power but his individuality.