Blog #4

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden

I feel that this poem is centered around a dysfunctional father and son relationship. The father appears to be hardworking and dedicated, but the son, at the time, does not appreciate these characteristics in his father. The father "had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes," but the son never seems to be grateful or pleased by these acts.(Hayden, 782) The poem creates a very dreary and sad image due to the cold wore down descriptions. The father is described as having "cracked hands that ached from labor," which emphasizes that the father had to work hard for everything he and the son owned.(Hayden, 781). Also, the son makes the comment, "fearing the chronic angers of that house"(Hayden, 781). This statement calls attention to the fact that the son did not feel comfortable or happy in the house. It may be possible that he and his father don't quite get along, or that an unknown factor may be tearing them apart as well. It appears now though, that as time has passed, the son realizes that his father really did love him ans feel guilty for not returning his fathers love.