Those Winter Sundays by Robert Haydon

Those Winter Sundays 

Sundays too my father got up early

and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,

then with cracked hands that ached

from labor in the weekday weather made

banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.

When the rooms were warm, he’d call,

and slowly I would rise and dress,

fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,

who had driven out the cold

and polished my good shoes as well.

What did I know, what did I know

of love’s austere and lonely offices?

Response


What days did the father get up early? 
Everyday, that's why it says Sundays too.

What do we know about the father? How would you describe him?
The father is a very hard worker, he got up early everyday to work, but no one recognized his work. He was nice and kind, he polished his son's good shoes.

What would it be like to live in this family? What makes you think so?
I think the parents fought a lot (chronic angers). The father would go and work all day for his family, but his work was under appreciated. I think the son knew that his parents fought but he didn't understand it.

What is this poem's most important message?
Kids don't really understand.  They don't really get their parents' struggles, like in this case how hard his dad worked or how his parents were on edge.

How well does the poet use language? What key words or phrases stand out? 
I think this poet uses language really well. He his word choice is great and very creative. 

•  blueblack cold
•  chronic angers of that house
•  love’s austere