Sometimes, when writers broach difficult or painful subjects, they mask the content with cryptic symbolism. Author Catherine Bowen once wrote, “For your born writer, nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word”. Perhaps this is because writing itself is so therapeutic for those who find comfort in language. But finding the right words can take a touch of delicacy, and symbolism can make painful topics even more striking. A good writer can make the text so colorful and vivid that it resonates with the writer long after the piece has been put down. Such is the case in Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”, where Roethke uses dark and cryptic language to expose an abusive relationship between an alcoholic father and his son.

Roethke opens the poem by introducing us to the seemingly complicated dynamic between father and son. He writes, “The whiskey on your breath / Could make a small boy dizzy; / But I hung on like death:” (90). The very first line indicates that the father has been drinking. The fact that he has been doing so openly around his young child immediately notifies the reader that the drinking is likely symptomatic of alcoholism, especially considering the negative language the author uses to describe the alcohol on the father’s breath, saying it caused the young boy to be “dizzy”. This word usage provokes sympathy in the reader and brings the father’s character into question. The following line is even more worrisome, as the author uses the word “death” to further illustrate that the piece is not meant to be taken lightly, and that something troubling and dark is the focus of our story. Also concerning is the image of this little boy holding onto his father during this symbolic waltz. What exactly the author means is unclear, but one could argue that the waltz is symbolic of their entire relationship, and that this line is indicating that the boy desperately wants a more positive relationship with his father, and is thus clinging on to any kind of connection he has with him, no matter how unhealthy it may be.

As the poem progresses, Roethke’s writing only becomes more painful and buried in symbolism. Roethke gives readers a larger glimpse at the relationship when he describes the following scene:

     We romped until the pans

Slid from the kitchen shelf;

My mother’s countenance

Could not unfrown itself. (91)

Here, Roethke uses “romped” to be somewhat ironic and disguise the disturbing message beneath the cheerful wordage. It becomes clear from the pans sliding that the “romp” is likely violent and disruptive. Any true dancing would not cause so much damage and destruction, and Roethke uses this imagery to hint towards abuse. The reader can interpret here that the father is beating the young boy, particularly when analyzing the second half of the stanza. The mother’s extreme displeasure at the scene unfolding contributes to the overall image of unhappiness and trauma. This stanza unveils the fractured family as a whole; unhappy mother, alcoholic father, and vulnerable child. 

The theme of violence is prolonged throughout the following lines, enhancing the idea that this relationship is an abusive and toxic one. This is exposed to the reader when Roethke writes, “At every step you missed / My right ear scraped a buckle” (91). Symbolically, this shows both a carelessness and complete disregard that the father is showing his son, because his missteps are directly causing the boy pain. The lack of concern for his own child’s well-being reiterates the idea that the young boy is being mistreated. Further, Roethke’s reference to the belt buckle incites a certain dread in the reader, as it’s common knowledge that belts are often used as makeshift whips when beating children. Roethke could have used any other item for the boy to scrape his ear on, and yet chose an item that is often wielded by abusers. It’s a subtle but clear indication of abuse and violence, which ties in with the rest of the poem.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking piece of the whole poem, the last line indicates that there is no hope for the young narrator. Roethke implies this when he delivers the final few words: “Then waltzed me off to bed / Still clinging to your shirt” (91). Following along with the symbol, the author continues to refer to the relationship as a dance, yet the reader has discovered throughout the poem that this is just a cover for something much more horrific. The disheartening part in this is the final line, that shows the boy is still hanging on to his father. There is no rescue attempt by the mother, no intervention by neighbors, no caring teacher to indicate any conception of escape. Instead, the last line suggests that things will not change or get better for the son. 

Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” tugs at readers’ heartstrings by discreetly telling the story of a broken home; a young boy, the victim of abuse from his alcoholic father. Through his continued symbolism and subtle word usage, Roethke paints a tragic picture. And yet, Roethke is only one of many writers to use this technique. Many authors hide pain in their writing through obscure references, which only serves to make the story more crushing when at last, it clicks for the reader. Writing is used by many as a way to heal, and so often, pain and tragedy can be found in seemingly innocuous texts, such as this one about a boy and his father’s “waltz”. 