My Papa's Waltz

My Papa's Waltz : Theodore Roethke

Summary:

"My Papa's Waltz" is a beautiful poem composed by Theodore Roethke. In this poem he presents his memories of his father. When the narrator was young, he would dance around with his father. He would put his feet on top of his father's breath. It had an unpleasant feeling of loss of balance. But he would continue with great determination in spite of hardships. Such dancing to a waltz was not easy. They would play noisily and roughly with a lot of jumping and running. Then the pans would fall down from the kitchen shelf and the mother would be annoyed. During dancing the father would hold the boy's wrist with his hand which was damaged on one finger joint. When the father skipped his step, the buckle of his belt would hurt the boy's right ear. He would beat time on the boy's head with his dirty and hard palm and took him to bed, but the boy still held on to his father's shirt.

Application of Four Levels:

1. Literal Comprehension:

The poet's father came home having whiskey. The smell on his breath could make a small boy dizzy, but the poet hung on him like death to be waltzing. They played together until the pans from the kitchen shelf slid down. It was enough to make his mother angry. Father's hand that held his wrist was battered on one knuckle. His right ear also rubbed on buckle. Father beat him on his head with his hard hand and took him to bed dancing. The poet kept on clinging to his shirt.

2. Interpretation:

In this poem the poet presents his memories of his father. He also presents his father as a source of love and affection. His father is probably no longer in his world. Thus, nostalgia is the central theme of the poem. In the poem the poet presents the importance of fatherly love in the life of human beings. No pain, no gain, no diamond and jewels can worth more than the love and affection which we receive from our father. In the poem the poet also tolerated bitter smell of whiskey, dirty hands of his father because he loved his father and he had friendly behaviour with the father. Not only that, when the poet played with his father,the poet got physical pain from his father. But also the poet remember his past days with his father and those days very lovely and valuable. The poem also presents the childhood life as a joyful life among all the stages of life. The memories of child life are very joyful, lovely and valuable for everyone of us. Thus, the poet often like to remember his past days with his father. Time passes but it evokes experience that remains continued in mind and heart. Perhaps he died not like his mother very much but he adored his father.

3. Critical Thinking:

Roetheke's "My Papa's Waltz" is a memoir poem. The four quatrains of the poem are well-constructed and the poem is beautiful and rhythmic. However, some ideas presented in the poem are less convincing. Does a small boy cling, to his drunkard father without being afraid? When the father hurts and beats the boy, why doesn't he cry? Does the mother really bear everything? Do the mothers really remain silent when one's child get beaten and injured by father or somebody else? Does the father play in the kitchen with his child like a child? Does the father not clean his palm even if he is a drinker?

4. Assimilation:

I have some sweet and unforgetful moments of joy in my life that I passed with my mother. Mother helped me to pay fees in school by saving from daily expenditure. Father never desired to provide me any education more than the basic one. She loved and inspired me to be a highly educated person. Her words still reverberate in my mind, and that has been source of my guidance.

(Bastakoti, (2007). A Combined Guide To Compulsory English. Kathmandu: Kalyani Prakshan)