How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
His shoulders globed like a full sail (2)
The son compares the size of his dad's working shoulders to a sail full of wind. We're pretty sure even Andre the Giant's shoulders aren't even that big. He admires him so much that he thinks he's larger than life. Also check out the assonance in these lines with "shoulders" and "globed." It gets our ear's attention, just like the dad got the son's attention.
Quote #2
An expert. He would set the wing
And fit the bright steel-pointed sock. (5-6)
Not only is his dad strong, but he's so good at what he does. He's not your average farmer, people; he's an expert. Now don't get it twisted.
Quote #3
The sod rolled over without breaking. (7)
The father's delicate touch with the plow is not lost on the super-attentive son. The father is not only super-strong, but super-skilled, too. Heaney does a lot of work to establish the strength and skill of the father, especially at the beginning of the poem. Rather than just state, "My dad's the baddest in the biz," Heaney shows a whole slew of actual examples that illustrate his strength and skill.