Imagery Poetry 2- Those Winter Sundays

"Sundays too my father got up early." line 1

I think that Robert Hayden's poem, Those Winter Sundays, is written in a retrospective point of view. It seems like a man is recalling all the laborous things his father did for him as a child, and realizing the extent of what he did. Hayden uses vivid imagery to describe how burdensome the work of the father was. In lines such as, "with cracked hands that ached" and "who had driven out the cold," we see that the father would do all he could for his family. The line "Sundays too my father got up early," implies that the father never rested or took a day off. The too provides special emphasis on his work ethic because Sundays are known as the day of rest. I think the author of this poem is feeling regret for not appreciating all that his father did for him. He is remorseful because he never exhibited any gratitude, even though he really did love his father. Maybe this poem is a warning to children to be greatful for all their parents do for them. It almost seems like the man no longer has the opportunity to express his sorrow to his father. Maybe the father passed away before he was able to thank him, so he is writting this to tell others to show gratitude towards your loved ones before it is too late.