Anybody who wants to know more about Patrick Kavanagh should read 'Patrick Kavanagh: a biography' (2003), by [Professor] Antoinnette Quinn.

It's not perfect, Kavanagh's brother Dr. Peter Kavanagh has taken some issue with the author, but it's pretty dammned good.


btw, according to the Penguin Modern Classics 'Collected Poems' of Patrick Kavanagh, it definitely 'pledge'.