PORTRAYAL OF FATHERS IN HAYDEN'S "THOSE WINTER SUNDAYS"AND MUHAMMAD HAJI SALLEH'S "WORDS FOR FATHER

Despite both poets coming from different background, but then they have shared a common theme in their writings. Both poems deal with portrayal of father through the voice of a grown up son. Hayden's poem is a reflection of the persona''s attitudes towards his own father when he was a child. He notices that he has never thanked his father despite all the things he had done. Unfortunately, time cannot be reversed and later when he is an adult only he realises his father's contribution and love. But, it is too late as his father has passed away. However, his realisation of his father's contribution and love is what matters. His later appreciation towards his father makes him a better person.

Meanwhile, MHS's "words for father"also portrays father through the voice of a grown up son. Here, the son depicts how hardworking his father is and his works have accumulated illness. Here, the persona advises his father to rest, from his works and his heavy responsibility to take care his children. Now that the persona is an adult, he and the others can pay his father's contribution and take care of him.

Looking at the appreciation that the persona has shown to his father, I feel that it is stirring. I also very touched towards the speaker in Hayden's poem...yes..it is true...life is so short...
We will never know what will happen to our loved ones , so take the chance to thank them while they are still alive...For me, I have lost some of the chances...