Those winter sundays

Robert Hayden was a poet who lived in the 20th century, and his writings are recognized for both their literary and social value. Being the first African American appointed as a poetry consultant to the US Congress was one of Hayden's greatest literary achievements, and many of his works reflect his passion for history, particularly African American history. The length of the sections in Robert Hayden's three-stanza poem "Those Winter Sundays'' varies, but the overall idea is the same throughout. In the poem, the speaker's father describes a time when he provided for his family in ways that went unnoticed even if the speaker suggests that his father's work was admirable and deserving of praise.

In reality, the speaker claims that while he benefited from that work, his father received little appreciation for it. This idea appears frequently in the lyrics to "Those Winter Sundays," and it finally becomes apparent that the unthankful boy has grown up to critique his lack of thankfulness as a youngster, while he links the problem to his early failure to comprehend his father's difficulties. The relationship ultimately failed because of the rift caused by miscommunication, and there is no indication that it was ever patched up. As a result, the poetry is burdened with guilt.

Poet: Robert Hayden
Published: 1962