Roethke's Waltz or Abuse: "My Papa's Waltz"

Roethke's Waltz or Abuse Is Theordore Roethke's poem, "My Papa's Waltz," a description of playful roughhousing or an abusive situation between father and child? After reading and analyzing this work, I envision one of abuse. Initially, the first two stanzas might possibly have been interpreted either way. The father and boy could be having fun when the author writes, "We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf." (2640, 3) However, there exists a negative atmosphere. …

…clings to his shirt. Abusive parents are normally sorry for hurting their children, and often the child still loves the parent. In conclusion, after reading and analyzing this poem, I see an abusive, drunk father in Roethke's words. The author doesn't come out and say the boy is beat by his father but more than often neither does the child that has suffered abuse. Roethke's language is carefully chosen and done so for a reason.