"Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden (poetry reading)

The most moving love poem I have read: "love's austere and lonely offices" is so simple and succinct that rarely has so much been expressed in so few words.

"Austere" means severely self-disciplined, enduring hardship for a higher purpose.. "Offices" are duties, actions which go with a role, in this case the role of a loving father. The purpose of love is what it motivates a person to do for another with no expectation of anything in return. He received no thanks and expected none.

I apologise for departing from my usual sotto voce with this uncharacteristic effusion.

He grew up in a poor district of Detroit, he had a hard childhood, his sight was impaired. He was awarded the grand prize for poetry at the first festival of Negro Arts in 1966.

Here's Robert himself reading it.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/features/audioitem/2778

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Those
• Winter
• Sundays
• Robert
• Hayden

[capricciosorapunzel]

Excuse me. Was this recording done by Mr. Hayden himself?

[SpokenVerse]

@capricciosorapunzel No, it was read by me, Tom O'Bedlam. I read everything in this SpokenVerse channel.

[loubedub]

Mr. O'Bedlam I loved your recital of this poem to bits, it has been a favorite of mine ever since I read it. Thank you so much. I must say I especially liked how you read the last sentence. I think it is the best way a man can read that sentence.

[pythonclaw]

Dear Mr. Bedlam, You have an exceptional voice.

How wonderful to hear the last lines given its due emotions it so deserves.

How truly well this poem is written. Pleasure reading it and listen to you too.

[kraptos]

Thank you. I love this poem. It makes me think of my father.

[Airlightf]

My father too, is strong! --What a poem!!!I love it.

[smmm1968]

What did I know, what did I know

of love's austere and lonely offices?

What a beauty?

[blazehok]

Thank you so much for this reading. It has always been one of my favorite poems, reminding so much of my own father. Thank you.

[darkbhudda]

I have to concur, it is the most moving love poem I have ever heard or read. Sadly, male expressions of love are misunderstood and ignored in our society.