Robert Hayden writes this poem in recollection, admiration, and appreciation of his father's hard work and devotion to his family during Hayden's youth. The poem focuses on and lays out bare the strength of one man. Hayden uses the opportunity to express his high regards for his father's efforts and struggles. He now regrets that he did not show his appreciation for his father's fidelity and dedication. Hayden admits that he never thanked his dad for such a commitment: "No one ever thanked him". He also regrets that he didn't put forth one hundred percent effort when his dad needed his assistance: " When the rooms were warm he'd call, and slowly I would rise and dress...." This shows that Hayden was lazy and reluctant to answer his father's orders.
             Hayden feels guilty for not appreciating his father's efforts. He is blaming himself for not taking enough initiative during his youth. He states, " Speaking indifferently to him...." He is guilty for complaining about minor chores to his dad. He ends the poem with a repetition of four words that sum up his guilty feelings when he says, "What did I know, what did I know".
             Although those four words are important in this piece, there are three words that the poem somewhat hinges on to increase the depth. Hayden uses austere, which comes from the Latin word "asteros", meaning severe in order to explain the severely simple love his father showcased if he had only noticed. Hayden exercises the adjective chronic, which comes from the French word "chronique" to enhance the long duration of anger in his home that seemed to be a pattern of his father's for a long time due to his devotions. Hayden uses the chiefly British word offices to express the beneficial act, love, performed by his father. Hayden describes it as "lonely"
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