My Papa's Waltz By Theodore Roethke

Theodore Roethke was a nineteenth-century poet who wrote satiric poetry, poetry that conveys a message but remains comical. Roethke talked freely about his struggle with depression and his difficult childhood especially after the loss of his father, which may have inspirited him to write the 1948 poem, “My Papa’s Waltz.” Within this poem Roethke was able to capture his audience with his words through the eyes of the speaker. The speaker, a young boy; expresses his thoughts while dancing the waltz with his father, whom appears drunk and clumsy. Roethke’s attention to details in the poem helps his readers form clear images of a boy who loves and fears his father by using words such as death, dizzy, or scraped. Throughout the poem there is contrast

between a father who could be perceived as careless or thoughtful. However, Roethke convinces his readers that the young boy loves his father but also expresses the young boys hidden fear with his father, while dancing the waltz.
After reading this particular poem the audience may believe the speaker is Roethke himself, who is sharing his memories of dancing with his father.

In this poem the young boy starts off by informing the reader of his fathers drinking problem. The boy states, “The whiskey on your breathe/ Could make a small boy dizzy” (Roethke, 2013, lines 1-2). The message that is being conveyed is a father who is portrayed as careless and unaware of the child’s wellbeing. Even though the young boy expresses his animosity towards the heavy scent of alcohol, Roethke quickly confirms the boy’s willingness to hold on: “But I hung on like death” (Roethke, 2013, line 3). The power behind this simile is the words “hung on” and “death.” Death is not something that can actually attach itself to a person, but Roethke is implying that the young boy’s fear of falling is forcing him to hang

on.
Roethke’s audience is able to create an overall picture or form an idea of what dancing the waltz consist of. In the poem we are presented with reckless mishaps, such as pans sliding from the shelves (Roethke, 2013, p.210). We are also introduced to the young boys mother, whom seems to be upset unable to undo her frowning face (Roethke, 2013, p.210). Roethke uses his words in a comedic way, but also uses the poem’s tone to let the reader know the resentment held in household by both the child and mother.
The imagery of this poem contains both positive and negative aspects of the relationship between the boy and the father.

The fact that Roethke is critical of the fathers rough housing with the boy, leads the reader to believe the father is dangerous and harmful. However, he also shows the playfulness within the poem through humor. In the poem he says, “We romp until the pans,” (Roethke, 2013, line 5) which help inform the reader of the innocence when dancing the waltz. The word “romp” tells the audience that their dancing is rough, but energetic allowing the reader to see the positive in waltzing. Despite Roethke’s playful words, quickly it is clear that the father takes the waltz a step to far: “At every step you missed/ My right ear scraped a buckle” (Roethke, 2013, lines 11-12). Based on the speaker’s tone, the audience can assume that even though the dancing is playful and fun, it is also is rough and

dangerous.
Throughout the poem we are introduced with Roethke’s playful words, but hunted by a reckless dancing. When reading this poem the audience is able to pick up on the cues through the dancing, helping us paint a picture the dysfunction of the dance. Through Roethke’s art of expression and the poems characteristics, Roethke audience is able to envision the young boy’s perspective during the dance. The boy describes his father as having battered knuckles and palms caked with dirt, (Roethke, 2013, p.210) informing the reader of his lack of appearance. However, Roethke keeps the audience guessing at the nature of the dancing by stating, “Then waltz me off to bed/ Still clinging to your shirt” (Roethke, 2013, lines 15-16). This aids the reader in understanding the connection between the son and father; also leaving the reader to believe the child wants love but disapproval of his father’s behavior. When the boy says, “still clinging to his shirt,” shows that the boy fears losing his father. Roethke is clearly stating the boy’s fear is not only his for safety, but also the fear of losing a father.
Although the poem remains comical and playful by showing the boys willingness to love his father, the reader cannot ignore the fear expressed throughout the poem. We can find pleasure in Roethke’s tone and imagery, which helped us as readers detect the reckless nature of the father when dancing the waltz. Therefore, we can say that although the boy cared for his father, he did not approve of his fathers actions. The young boy did have some hidden fear when in the presence of his father.