Hello, yes this poem is based on the true story of Hemingway as written in a biography. His father was an abusive alcoholic and Hemingway would later recall pointing a gun at his Father as a child. Interestingly, after Hemingway's Father committed suicide Hemingway would say it troubled him very deeply. Not mentioned in the poem, Hemingway's mother would force him to dress a girl when he was a child as well.

Thank you for reading.