An unnamed man sits silently in the corner of a bar “staring at his drink”.
The first stanzaA grouped set of lines within a poem. describes his appearance using the language of ship-building.
Second stanza
The second stanza shows the Protestant man’s bigotry, describing how “that fist would drop a hammer on a Catholic”.
His “sleek pint of porter” is compared to a priest’s collar as the “only Roman collar he tolerates”.
Third stanza
The man’s uncompromisingSomeone who is determined not to change their opinions or ways. views are shown in the third stanza, including his staunchFirm, strong or steadfast. belief in God as a controlling figure with “certain definite views”.
In this stanza the siren signalling the end of his shift lets him out of work, to take on the shift God has ordered as "leisure".
Fourth stanza
In the final stanza we return to the image of him sitting in the pub, still silent.
There is a suggestion that his family are intimidatedTo feel scared of or threatened by. by him. Heaney refers to them being “quiet/ At slammed door and smoker’s cough” on his arrival home.
