My Papa's Waltz (Favorite Poem Project)

My Papa's Waltz
by Theodore Roethke
read by William Van Fields for FPP, 1999

Category:

Education

Tags:

• My
• Papa's
• Waltz

[KingOystar]

I love that poem. I dont think it was about an abusive father. My classmates thought I was nuts.

[verbaud]

I always thought of my 2 uncles Tommy & Mike when I read this poem. Years after they passed away, I can still remember them (yes, with whiskey breath)playfully swinging me around and laughing when I was a little kid. It is a positive, loving memory for Roethke, and evoked positive loving memories for me.

[TheophilusBoone]

This poem is certainly NOT about abuse. I've loved this poem for 40 years. Why would the kid be clinging to his father's shirt? Because he did not want the dance to end. I wish I could dance a rough dance with my long gone father and a close gentle one with my dear sweet mother. Now that would be as good as heaven.

[lorenoffcast]

Beautiful, deep poem. I can only imagine what that feels like as a child.

[Haha2323g]

ya this poem is awsome

[Elexegente489]

@ChushiSushi The poem is clearly about a dance. It's titled "My Papa's Waltz." Any symbolism and meaning interpreted past the waltz is strictly a projection of the reader. The only truth that we as readers can be sure of in this poem is that a child is dancing with his (or her) father who has had a drink after a long day at work. That should be all the truth that we need. Sometimes we are so blinded by our search for subtext that we fail to see the beautiful image that the poem actually creates.

[VERONICA1977]

I also agree it is a positive poem. I have to write a paper about this poem for my final.

[TheDazy37]

@ChushiSushi

Reeeeallllllllllly? It can't be about the dance? Not possible?

The beat of the words....very 1, 2, 3

[LRMaylott]

@ChushiSushi And you sir... and a Dick!

[ChushiSushi]

@LRMaylott Really, stop trying to sound smart by using the word egotistical. How does my comment in anyway reflect that I am full of myself? Seriously, I know poems can be interpreted in many ways, but the poem is obviously not about a physical dance. Why would the author write a poem about that? The "waltz" is symbolic for the relationship between the father and child. The relationship can be interpreted the way you want, but the poem is in no way actually about a dance. You sir, are an idiot.

[LRMaylott]

@ChushiSushi First and foremost... Poetry this vague can be interpreted any way the reader choses to interpret it. So don't you dare tell me that the way i see this poem is wrong. Secondly, thinking you have any superior knowledge to tell me that what I think is wrong, just goes to show how egotistical you really are.

[ChushiSushi]

@LRMaylott Haha. It is not about a physical dance, the "waltz" is a symbolic meaning for the childs relationship with her father. The dance is just the literal meaning of the poem not the true meaning.