"We just sit tight, the wind dives and strafes invisibly."

• Language

  • The phrase "sit tight" suggests human endurance, patience, and determination. It shows the islanders are holding their ground, not fleeing or panicking.
  • The verbs "dives" and "strafes" are aggressive, military terms usually used to describe attack planes. This personifies the wind as a violent attacker, emphasizing the storm’s ferocity and unpredictability.
  • The adverb "invisibly" adds to the menace by highlighting the unseen, unpredictable nature of the wind, increasing the tension and fear.
• Form

  • The poem is written in free verse with no regular rhyme or meter, mirroring the unpredictable and chaotic nature of the storm.
  • This line’s steady rhythm contrasts with the violent imagery, reflecting the islanders’ calm exterior despite the storm’s aggression.
• Structure

  • The line is after the middle of the poem where the storm’s power is fully described, building more tension.
  • The conjunction "while" links the human action ("sit tight") with the ongoing natural attack, showing simultaneous human endurance and nature’s assault.
• Writer's Intent

  • Heaney wants to highlight the vulnerability and resilience of humans facing the overwhelming power of nature.
  • By using military language, he intensifies the conflict between humans and nature, suggesting it’s like a battle or war.
  • The "invisible" nature of the wind also suggests the unpredictable and uncontrollable forces humans face, emphasizing both fear and respect for nature’s power.