“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke is a poem that at first glance seems to express the idea of parental abuse due to intoxication. But after analyzation, the reader may experience a transition from a negative image to a positive one. This positive image is  a father dancing with his son while the father is under the influence. Individual words and the context in which they are used throughout the poem create the positive aspect of “My Papa’s Waltz”.

Halfway through the poem what appears to be child abuse takes place. “We romped until the pans / Slid from the kitchen shelf.” (line 5-6). This can be taken negatively as child abuse because when the first time the two lines are read, it seems like the father is angry and is throwing around pans but this is not the case. “Romped” is the key word in these two lines from the poem and means to play or frolic in a lively or boisterous manner. Understanding the word “romped”, we can deduct that the two lines from the poem mean that the father and the son were playing and dancing until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf. The imagery created from these two lines is nothing less than happy and healthy. In no way do the two lines used above create negative image or suggest that the father is abusing his son. 

At the beginning of the poem Roethke writes about the father coming home with whiskey on his breath and how it could make a small boy dizzy. He then writes “but I hung on like death, / such waltzing was not easy.” (3-4). At first glance these two lines could be seen as a negative indication because of the word “death.” The true meaning of the sentence is actually positive and shows that the relationship between the father and son is not abusive. Since the father was drunk off whiskey, his coordination was poor and is the reason for the first line “But I hung on like death:” (3) the child is simply trying to hold on to his dad. This outlook is reinforced by the second line “such waltzing was not easy” (4). The second line confirms that there is an innocent and positive reason for holding onto his father so strongly; to dance. This line also provides more evidence for the overall outlook of the poem. 

The end of the poem provides one of the strongest phrases in favor of the positive outlook of the poem. Roethke writes “Then waltzed me off to bed / still clinging to your shirt” (15-16). These two lines provide the imagery of a young child holding onto his father as the father takes him to bed; a very loving and positive image. The key words when looking at the lines are “waltzed” and “clinging.” “Waltzed” is important because it expresses the way in which the father and son went off to bed. The word “waltzed,” as used in the line from the poem, suggests a very happy and enjoyable trip to bed for the child. “Clinging” shows just how close the child wanted to be with his father. The use of the words “clinging” and “waltzed” in two of the final lines of the poem ensure that the relationship between the father and son is a healthy one. 

“My Papa’s Waltz” is an interesting poem because not only can it be taken in a positive or negative light, but that the poem uses the societal image of parental drinking and the reader’s personal life experience as the main instrument in determining whether it is positive negative. Once personal experience and the societal image of parental drinking are pushed aside and the language of the poem is analyzed and understood, the reader can clearly see that the poem is has a positive perspective.  Words like “romped,” “waltzing,” and “clinging” play a crucial role in making the reader realize this. The words do not do all the work. The context in which they are used and the lines themselves are perhaps even more important because they are responsible for creating the positive image. The use of the right words and the positive context in which they are used, ensure that once the reader fully understands “My Papa’s Waltz,” a positive image will be associated with it.
