The--Poem

At first glance "My Papa’s Waltz" may appear to be a dark poem describing an abusive, alcoholic father. Yet after further examination, the reader may develop a completely opposite oppion. Although the father's intoxicated "waltz" seems to be excessively rough and abusive, the overall tone of the poem suggests otherwise-a comic and affectionate situation between father and son.

The first stanza introduces the reader to the drunken, uneasy waltz that drives the action of the poem. It is clear that the father has been drinking heavily as the speaker notes his foul breath, "Could make a small boy dizzy." In order for the speaker to keep up with his father's wild dancing he must hang "on like death" suggesting that the father may be becoming abusive. The stanza ends with an uncertain tone, revealing a situation in which the speaker is trying to enjoy the moment yet cannot overlook his fathers heavy drinking problem.

As their dance continues they "romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf" creating a comic scene while the mother watches disapprovingly. The word "romped" connotes a joyful roughhouse between the son and his father, not an abusive situation disguised as dancing. Since the father is drunk his dancing has become less than perfect causing him to bump into the surrounding objects in the kitchen. If he was in fact beating his son and not just rough housing, the mother would have reacted with more enthusiasm than simply a frown. No attempts at intervention were made because none were necessary.

The third and fourth stanzas might again be misunderstood as an abusive encounter, but the overall playful tone suggest otherwise. The fathers hand is described as being "battered on one knuckle" which might imply that he has been abusing his family and son. His palms are then described as being "caked hard by dirt" which leads the reader to believe that the father is a manual laborer, and could have received his "battered" knuckle while on the job. If he had injured himself while beating his family, then the speaker would have not chosen such a humorous tone. At the end of the night the father, "Then waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt." If the father was in fact abusing the small boy, then why would he take the time to put him to bed. The speaker is also described to be "clinging" to his father's shirt rather than running away in fear of his abusive, alcoholic father.

Although the satirical tone of the poem may suggest that the speaker is somewhat critical of his fathers heavy drinking, roughness, and inconsiderate actions, the overall comic scene helps the reader to look past the harsh edges. The constant rhythm throughout the poem helps to give it a lighter feeling to contrast with some of its possible darker interpretations. At times the fathers drunkenness and lines such "at every step you missed my right ear scrapped a buckle" or "you beat time on my head" might not suggest an altogether joyful dance, but rather a frightful experience. Nonetheless the relationship between the father and son is an affectionate and complicated love despite the poem's dark undertone.

Question Deals:
1. Although I have interpreted the poem to be an overall affectionate experiece, does anyone think that the poem is really about the boy being abused
2.How does the language used in the poem make its meaning ambiguous
3.How is the comic tone achieved in the poem
4.What effect does rhyming have on the poem
5.How would you describe the imagery used in the poem?