Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Father's Toughness:
The opening lines convey the toughness of the speaker's father, describing him as a "tough cookie." Despite this toughness, there's an underlying fondness in the way the father is remembered by his friends, who still speak of him with a smile.
Love Amidst Hot-Temper:
The poem acknowledges the father's hot-tempered nature and his insistence on having his own way. Despite these qualities, the speaker and the father's friends loved him. This suggests that love can coexist with challenging personality traits.
Symbolic Act of Affection:
The act of kissing the father every night before bed for the first decade of the speaker's life is a symbolic expression of affection. It signifies a routine that persisted despite any difficulties or disagreements.
Conflict and Reconciliation:
The poem narrates a specific incident where the father had a big argument, and the speaker, embodying a "chip off the old block," refused to see him. However, with the coaxing of the mother and elder brothers, the speaker eventually goes to the father's door, pecks his cheek without saying a word, and goes to bed with a sense of the unfairness of life. This episode illustrates the complexity of familial relationships, with moments of conflict and reconciliation.
Love as Unpredictable:
The concluding metaphor compares love to islands formed by natural forces like tidal waves, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. This suggests that love, like the islands, is shaped by unpredictable and sometimes tumultuous events, appearing and disappearing suddenly.
The poem provides a nuanced exploration of familial love, acknowledging the imperfections and conflicts within relationships while emphasizing the enduring nature of love despite these challenges.