In this poem what does this mean?

Question

heres is the poem :

Sundays too my father got up early

And put his clothes on in the blueback cold,

then with cracked hands that ached

from labor in the weekday weather made

banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.

When the rooms were warm, he'd call,

and slowly I would rise and dress,

fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,

who had driven out the cold

and polished my good shoes as well.

What did I know, what did I know

of love's austere and lonely offices?

what do they mean by " love's austere and lonely offices?"

Answer 1

Austere is poetically, cold, naked and plain.

Offices is a chosen duty, job or vocation.

Love's cold and naked lonely duty.

So, it means that he does this warming of his home, without thanks because he loves without reward.  A fine definition of unconditional love and care-taking.

Answer 2

It means that the father did all that...went out to work, warmed the house ready...for those he loved: his family. It is a lonely and thankless task being a parent!! But you don't need thanks..you do it because you love your family.

Answer 3

Lonely Offices.........................Very deep and private man

Loves Austere.................Meaningful love

Genuine love from a very private man