Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz" : Abuse or Play?

I first thought of "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke as a disturbing portrayal of a father beating his child, despite it's playful form, which imitates the cadence of a waltz in the meter of its stanzas very well. The usage of very strong, almost violent language seemed to support this interpretation of the poem's content. On a second look however, simply reading the poem, trying not to stick to the first impression of the …

…father's] breath" appears to be nothing more than just a casual drink. In conclusion we may say that, depending on how you look at "waltz", as a metaphor for a fight or simply a description of a playful, dance-like action, Theodore Roethke's poem "My Papa's Waltz" can be interpreted in multiple ways. The imagery of an abusive father can be supported as well as the idea of father and son romping playfully through the house.