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What is the central idea of the poem my papa’s waltz?

What is the central idea of the poem my papa’s waltz?

1 Answer

  1. Theodore Roethke uses a dancing metaphor to explain the complex bond between a father and son in “My Papa’s Waltz.” This poem’s first lines depict the speaker’s father’s movements, whiskey breath, and how “Such waltzing was not simple.” Very quickly, it becomes clear that this waltzing is spinning chaos of pattern violence. This “dance” the two are performing is not brand-new. They made a mess as they “romped” and “waltzed” around the kitchen, to the mother’s chagrin, until he brought his son to bed while holding his wrist.

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