The poem starts off with an image of the son recalling the past memories of his father, who is now passed. Although it seems very simple, Roethke’s use of language creates a strong impression that evokes nostalgia, sadness, but at the same time happiness. The first stanza reads: My papa’s Waltz was the saddest ever Waltzed— / Three steps to each measure/ And then a hold on to Mama for dear life./ I can feel him holding tight./ My papa was lonesome since Ma died;/ Now he holds me in memory dancing Waltzing Matilda.
This first stanza establishes emptiness and loneliness through physicality represented by dance moves emphasizing each step downbeat count of 3. The opening sets the tone as being a very nostalgic poem that has to do with loss and sadness. It also establishes a pattern of emptiness representing how he misses his dad, but at the same time happiness through memories of holding his father, which is an emotional connection to someone he once loved.
Throughout each stanza, Roethke uses figurative language to express vivid imagery. Line 4 reads “his face detained me for half My life”; the idea of your father’s face keeping you for half your life represents something monumental about him. This shows how much he meant to him despite their relationship having ups and downs like any other normal person does in their lifetime. Line 5 reads: “my papa reeks of applejack” with the idea of him smelling like applejack that suggests a very positive memory or moment in time.
The poem continues for another stanza until it ends with an image of how he feels when he no longer has his father there, reading: My papa was handsome, My papa was tall And when My mama would Waltz with him in the hotel ballroom My heart went out from me. Line 7 uses personification to make death seem friendly and nice by saying “Death came riding” who also happens to be a very important character in this poem.
Lately My Papa’s Waltz has become familiar to me. My father will sometimes play the song on the piano while I am here in his apartment, and when he sings along with it I can hear an echo of his voice under how my grandfather sang. Theodore Roethke is a poet born in Michigan in 1908. He attended the University of Michigan for both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, studying under professor Kenneth Burke. Eventually, Theodore started teaching at Bennington College, which later became home to one of his lecture series called “Open House”.
This series was based around topics that arose from Theodore’s poems after he had published several books including The Lost Son . My Papa’s Waltz deals with the portrayal of Theodore’s father, who was suffering from dementia when My Papa’s Waltz was written. The poem My Papa’s Waltz begins with Theodore talking about his father in the kitchen, saying that even though he does not know what exactly is happening in the world around him, he knows how to work a cigarette lighter.
Despite this distraction in his brain, My Papa still knows how to play My Grandfather’s Waltz on the piano. This metaphor is important because it shows that My Papa is suffering from memory loss like his grandfather did before him. He also mentions that My Papa’s hands are badly burned and scarred but music has allowed him to create something beautiful despite these imperfections; My Papa’s hands are a representation of My Papa himself. My Papa’s Waltz is a metaphor for My Grandfather’s Waltz, which was the name of another poem by Theodore Roethke.
My Grandfather’s Waltz talks about how My Grandfather is trapped in his own mind and how he cannot escape from it, that even though My Grandfather does not know where he is or what day it is, there is still beauty in him. The poem My Grandfather’s Waltz ends with Theodore talking about how My Grandfather can hear music that no one else can hear, but he feels like the music only exists on the inside because no one else believes it exists just as My Papa felt. My Papa’s Waltz is My Grandfather’s Waltz, but it is My Grandfather’s Waltz as My Papa remembers it.
My Papa’s Waltz opens up with Theodore Roethke talking about how he tries to remember My Papa and what his life was like when My Papa was younger and not suffering from dementia. My father will sometimes play the song on the piano while I am here in his apartment, and when he sings along with it I can hear an echo of his voice under how my grandfather sang; we both want to capture their voices which we might never really fully understand or comprehend as human beings.
Towards the end of My Papa’s Waltz Theodore talks about how he wants My Papa to remember My Grandfather and My Grandfather’s Waltz, the song My Papa used to play on the piano. Theodore Roethke also talks about how he does not want My Papa or My Grandfather’s Waltz to forget him as well. My Papa is My Grandfather and My Grandfather is My Papa; they are one in the same and they both understand something that no one else around them comprehends. My grandfather died when I was young, so listening to it makes me feel like I am with my father and grandfather at the same time.
It reminds me of summers spent with family, cooking out by a bonfire, sitting next to someone on a porch swing while watching nature go by. There will be times where My Papa will play My Grandfather’s Waltz with My Grandfather’s voice, and My Papa will know how to play it just like My Grandfather did. Theodore Roethke wrote My Papa’s Waltz mid-career when he had already published ten books of poetry. He suffered from bipolar disorder and alcoholism which made him unreliable for much of his life; because of this, Theodore could not keep a steady job until he started teaching at Bennington College in Vermont.
My Papa’s Waltz is one out seven poems dedicated to Theodore Roethke’s father and grandfather called “Eleven Addresses”. These other six poems were written later on in his career, many years after My Papa’s Waltz. My Grandfather’s Waltz was the first one written and My Papa’s Waltz came after My Grandfather’s Waltz. My Papa’s Waltz and My Grandfather’s Waltz both explore Theodore Roethke’s relationship with his deceased grandfather but My Papa’s Waltz is about Theodore trying to find out who his father is.