Those Winter Sundays

The word “Sundays” appears in the title and is the first word of the poem. Hayden could have picked any day, and the poem’s rhythm and form wouldn’t have changed, so the choice of Sunday is intentional and meaningful.

In Christianity, Sunday is the day of rest. In the book of Genesis, Sunday is the day God rests after creating heaven and earth. Considering this and the poem’s religious allusions earlier outlined in this guide, the use of Sunday here is important. Unlike God, the speaker’s father does not get to rest on Sundays. Instead, he spends the day of rest in service to his children.

The use of this specific day of the week amplifies the poem’s religious connotations and helps connect the father’s love for his child to the agape love the Christian God has for His children.

Fire can represent many things, but is often a sign of life, passion, or love. Though fire can be deadly, it is one of the most fundamental things humans need to survive. Fire supplies warmth and light and is essential for cooking. In ancient Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and delivered it to humans, allowing them to survive in a cold, dark world.