My Papa’s Waltz

Many people have interpreted Theodore Roethke’s My Papa’s Waltz as a poem about child abuse. The poem describes a young boy being spun around by his father, and some have read this as a metaphor for the physical abuse that can occur in such a situation. However, it is also possible to read the poem … Read more

My Papa’s Waltz is a poem by Theodore Roethke. The poem is about a young boy waltzing with his father. The father is drunk and the son is scared, but he doesn’t want to stop dancing. The poem has a light, playful tone at the beginning. However, as the poem progresses, the tone becomes more … Read more