"Those Winter Sundays" is a poignant and beautifully written poem by Robert Hayden that captures the quiet, unyielding love and sacrifice of a father. Through the use of imagery, tone, and structure, Hayden conveys the struggles and hardships of this father, who works tirelessly to provide for his family even on the coldest, darkest days of winter.
The poem begins with a simple yet evocative description of the father, "blueblack frost" covering the windows and the "cracked hands" that ache from the cold. This imagery immediately establishes the harsh and unforgiving nature of the winter season, as well as the father's relentless dedication to his family. It also suggests the physical toll that the father's labor takes on him, as his hands are "cracked" from the cold and his body is "numb" from the "cracked hands."
As the poem progresses, Hayden paints a vivid picture of the father's daily routine, from waking up before dawn to "make a fire" and "polish" the "doorknob and the boots." These mundane tasks, which might seem insignificant to some, are actually acts of love and devotion. The father performs them willingly, despite the "cracked hands" and the "blueblack frost," because he knows that they are necessary for the well-being and comfort of his family.
The tone of the poem is one of quiet reverence and appreciation. Hayden does not explicitly express admiration for the father, but rather allows the reader to infer it through the details and descriptions of the father's actions. The speaker, who is presumably the poet himself, reflects on the sacrifices of the father with a sense of guilt and regret, acknowledging that he did not fully understand or appreciate them at the time. This is evident in the lines, "What did I know, what did I know / of love's austere and lonely offices?"
The structure of the poem also plays a significant role in its overall meaning and impact. The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme scheme or regular meter. This choice of form reflects the unpredictable and irregular nature of the father's work, as well as the speaker's own uncertainty and hindsight. The poem is also divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza focusing on the father's physical labor and the second stanza exploring the emotional toll it takes on him. This division serves to emphasize the complexity and depth of the father's love and devotion, which goes beyond the visible and tangible actions of a working man.
In conclusion, "Those Winter Sundays" is a powerful and moving tribute to the love and sacrifice of a father. Through vivid imagery, a contemplative tone, and a structured yet free-flowing form, Hayden conveys the struggles and hardships of this father, who works tirelessly to provide for his family even on the coldest, darkest days of winter. The poem serves as a reminder of the small acts of love and devotion that often go unnoticed or unappreciated, and encourages readers to reflect on the sacrifices of those who care for us.