Peter's Field Comments

The thrust of this poem points to the futility of human effort. Peter's posthumous message certainly is despairing and my heart is hurt by his hurt. But the description of his life-long efforts is heroic and whether he knows it or not Peter is a kind of hero, an ordinary hero, not a mythic one who imposes his will on the world. Peter is the one who keeps his hopes alive, makes effort worthwhile, teaches us by his example. Your poem reveals the true Peter.