by Martin Reftorr

Created on: June 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 16, 2008

In his poem, "Those Winter Sundays", Robert Hayden recollects memories from his childhood, over which he reveals his emotions through deep and powerful imagery. Notably, he creates a contrast with touch and auditory imagery related to cold and harshness, which establish a pensive and regretful tone, and warm images indicative of respect and appreciation for his father.

At the beginning of the poem, Hayden introduces cold and uncomfortable images to relay his initial tone of regret with regards to not respecting his father. He supplements "cold" in the second line with blueblack, a very uncommon word that creates dissonance and carries with it a negative connotation, in order to strengthen the undesirable conditions brought by the cold imagery. This developing tone of regret is also aided by the poet's illustration of his father with the auditory image of "cracked hands" and the sensory term "ached", both of which indicate that the father's struggle with the harsh coldness (line 3). Similarly, Hayden references his father in relation to the breaking and splintering cold to prove that his father experienced discomfort in battling the uncomfortable conditions, yet still triumphed (line 6). His repeated use of harsh auditory and cold sensory imagery, culminating with a sequence indicating his father's success over these images, represent Hayden's pensive recollection of his tough past and his regret that he never thanked his father for taming the uncomfortable elements.

While expressing pensive regret, the poet also reveals the admiration and respect he gained for his father over the years with the use of active and warm images. After noting the breaking of the cold, Hayden writes that his father would call him "when the rooms were warm" (line 7). In establishing this connection, the poet effectively equates warmth with his father's efforts and presence. Hayden further exposes his admiration for his dad when he refers to him not as his father, but rather as the man "who had driven out the cold" (line 11). His emphasis on the active image, "driven", magnifies focus on the efforts of his father, which, when coupled with the equating of his dad and warmth, signifies the poet's appreciation for his father's positive activity. In antagonizing the cold and figuratively representing warmth and action, the father emerges as a respectful and admired character in Hayden's eyes.

Robert Hayden, in his poem "Those Winter Sundays", reveals, through cold and harsh imagery, the initial pensive regret he feels for never respecting his father's actions during his childhood, yet, in remembrance, he also illustrates his developed admiration and respect by using images of warmth and action. This image contrast successfully conveys the relationship between both tones Hayden feels in regards to his father.

Learn more about this author, Martin Reftorr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.