'My papa's Waltz' by Theodore Roethke

2-18-11
I loved the poem 'My Papa's Waltz' by Theodore Roethke. It was hard for me not to bring my own feeling in to my interpretation of the poem, but their was one line that truly made me feel that it was a positive story; 'With a palm caked hard by dirt'The only way I could interpret this line was positive. The boy was well aware that his father worked hard. For a young child to be aware of the cause of his fathers cracked hands and drunkenness takes compassion.
When I read the poem and bring in my personal feelings, I am torn two ways. My father drank and was verbally abusive when he drank, but he worked from 6 am until long after dark, and their was never a doubt in my mind that he loved me and would do anything for me. Because of my history, my interpretation is influenced by my love for my father.
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