Theodore Roethke's early experiences influenced his later works, such as "My Papa's Waltz." Both his father and uncle died while Roethke was in his early teenage years, which resulted in a loss of two main male figures in his life. "My Papa's Waltz," was a poetic depiction of Roethke's childhood experiences with his alcoholic father. The way he metaphorizes the word "waltz" throughout the poem to symbolize the abusive relationship between the two creates a sense of dominance the father has in the family. All the factors including rhythm, word choice, and the overall imprints left in the boy's memories, play a huge role in expressing the drunken nights between the father and son.

The author, Theodore Roethke, uses an ironic "a b a b" rhyme scheme in this quatrain poem. By mimicking a waltz tempo, it leaves a subtle reminder of what a waltz should be. With each line contributing to that waltz beat of three per line, the poem becomes a waltz within itself, but leaves the reader with the words that paint an exposed and horrifying picture. The use of slant rhythm contributes to the poem’s theme of an imperfect family going through an abusive relationship. The father is in control of the waltz and the son is there for the ride, with little to no say on what is about to happen. Since the boy is too young to firmly understand what is happening at the time, years later he is able to interpret the negative memories his father has left him to make a career for himself.

As it is always easy to assume the worst, human nature tries to make one see the good in people. However, Theodore Roethke makes that hard to do as he begins the first stanza of the poem with the whiskey smelling breath of the father, “could make a small boy dizzy” (2). Already, the reader gets a sense of how important alcohol is in the events that are about to occur. This is the first instinct of drunkenness displayed by the father, as the word choice applies negativity towards the child. When one hears the word, “dizzy”, it is automatically corresponding with a negative connotation. Imagine how one feels when in a state of dizziness. With this conclusion, the reader may assert a sense of harm being done to the child from the beginning. Another instance occurs when the author states, "But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy." (3-4) Roethke's poetic decision to use the word "death" in this particular line instills a negative connotation. An alarming line, like the one previously stated, stands for something more serious. The young boy fears for his life and views this altercation as a fight for survival. Nothing but violence follows as the second stanza begins to create a visual image based on Roethke's word choice. "We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf," portrays rough play between a father and son. (5-6) The word chosen, "romped," could be defined as rough play or even something more serious such as illicit sexual activity. Alone, rough play gives a negative view point on the matter but now with the consideration of taking it to the next level, begins to make this boy's memory even worse. More support of how drunk the father was comes later in the poem when he is stumbling to the point his seven year old son is getting slashed by his belt buckle, and beaten until it was the boy's bed time.

Theodore Roethke uses "My Papa's Waltz" as a way to express his resentment towards his father. The way visual and tactile imagery are used helps explain how this poem serves as a memory this boy constantly dwells on. It is the last thing the boy thinks of and experiences before he goes to sleep and probably the first think he fears when he wakes up. The author emphasizes, "Then [he-the father] waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt." (15-16) With this concept of pain and powerless state that lasts through the night, the boy still holds a grip to his father as a sign of mercy. This is because the closer he is to his father the harder it is for the son to get hit, for it is an awkward angle. As the last line not only suggests physical fear but emotional fear of not being loved by his father. All a child wants, all a child needs is to fell the sense of security and loving environment within his household. As “my mother’s countenance could not unfrown itself.” (7-8) With two parents in the house and neither of them giving the boy the attention he needs, creates the unstable setting for this poem. The mother does not show any support as she stands in the distance with a frown spread across her face. She is clearly mortified by the actions occurring in front of her, but is too scared to step up and defend her son with the fear that she too will be abused. If the mother cannot even defend herself against the father, how does one expect the seven-year-old boy to protect himself? A question that will never be given a definitive answer but will be haunting the boy for the rest of his life. Abusive relationships like this is not something easily forgotten, in fact they shape your future life decisions. These constant beatings are what is imprinted in the boy's memory due to his abusive alcoholic father that knows no means of love or support. 

In conclusion, Theodore Roethke uses his childhood experiences with his father to construct a heart wrenching, relatable poem. His abusive alcoholic farther is constantly portrayed in a negative light throughout the poem. With Roethke's thought out word choices, rhythmic pattern, and story outline he has successfully portrayed a boy who is experiencing a hard time with his father, where his mother is present but might as well be absent because of her lack of action to help her son. With that the mention of death really emphasizes the struggle the boy is facing and how he could see himself ending up dead one of these days because of his father's treatment. The waltz is a metaphor for this constant battle and the poem itself has taken its own form of a waltz through its rhyme scheme. 
