English Literature

Theodore Rhoethke may have deliberately use positive and negative words in his poem My Papas Waltz to make it more complex. At first, the reader would think that the poem is about a violent story of a son and his father. Reading the first two lines gives the impression of a father who drinks too much before going home. Another one is the facial expression (countenance) of the boys mother when he is confronted by his father. It seems like his mother does not care on what his father is doing to him. But reading Rhoethkes work the second time gives the reader a whole different picture of a family.

First is the title of the poem. Choosing My Papas Waltz instead of Fathers Waltz tells that the poem is about a personal relationship of a boy and his father. In line 5, Rhoethke uses the word romped to show the playfulness and rhythmic routine between him and his father. Another paradox in the poem is the use of waltz. Waltz is a very simple dance that requires no training though line 4 suggests that the two waltzed difficultly. Picturing this gives the reader a funny scenario of a child trying to keep in-synch of his fathers dancing. In a sense, the two have great relationship. Another point to consider is that during that time, most jobs require physical work that workers go home dirty. They might also drink on a regular basis. So, going home with a battered knuckle and a palmed caked by dirt would be normal.

The line You beat time of my head means that the father is tapping his hands to the boys head so that he would remember the beat of their waltzing. The last line indicates that the boy does not want to let go of his father. He does not want that moment with his beloved father to end.

Rhoethkes use of contradicting words makes this poem hard to understand at first but a couple of reading gives a beautiful story of a boy treasuring his unforgettable moments on his beloved father.

Waltz(ed)
(denotation)      to dance or move in a waltz step or rhythm
 (connotation)   to move breezily or casually

Romped
 (denotation)     to play or frolic boisterously
 (connotation)   exuberant, unruly, and vigorous dancing

Hung on Like death
(denotation)      compared to death note of fear
 (connotation)   fear of the consequences of letting go

Beat
 (denotation)     to strike repeated blows pound
 (connotation)   to play, as on a drum