The poem describes a prodigal son who finds himself living and working in deplorable conditions in a pigsty after wasting his money on alcohol. He is so immersed in the filth and stench of the pigs that he can no longer think clearly about his situation. Though some mornings the beauty of the sunrise makes him feel he can endure this exile a while longer, he knows he cannot stay forever. It will take him a long time to fully decide to leave this life behind and finally return home.