Hayden, who is speaking in his older years, looks back and expressively uses distinct language and tone to show that he indeed loved his father’s contribution in all he can for his son. Although at first, the poem does not seem to be a great tribute to his father, Hayden’s admiration and love for his father become apparent, as we look deeper. Moreover, the poem’s tone shifts in the beginning from a cold, harsh tone to a warmer comforting tone. Hayden’s description about his father include terms that relate to the poem such as …show more content…
The father represents a stereotype where dads would get up in the morning to help the family. The terms such as “blueblack cold” and “cracked hands that ached” imaged how hard the dad is working and how there are no exceptions of the duty. The “blueback cold” says that the father starts working even when the sun has not even begun to rise. Hayden also uses sounds as he writes, “I awoke and heard cold splintering, breaking.” Although what the boy heard was really the fire crackling, or ice melting off the windows, the line can also be interpreted figuratively of the father. In fact, the “cold splintering and breaking” symbolizes that the father is working to the point where his physical health is affected such his back breaking. Consequently, the father’s contribution is shown through the words to describe the prices he had to pay, such as his condition. Both the father and son had miscommunication, causing Hayden to think he was not