In Theodore Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz,” the author presents to the reader his childhood experience. In the poem, he relates his relationship with his father to a “waltz.” The author’s childhood unfolds as the “waltz” is performed. In this performance, the diction the author uses allows the reader to have many perspectives of the poem. Throughout the work, the author employs vague words to describe his upbringing. Thus, Roethke makes it …showed first 75 words of 859 total…

…showed last 75 words of 859 total…meaning to his poem. The reader does this by simply filling in those sort of gray areas with their own childhood experiences. Therefore connecting the readers’ own experiences together with the author’s framework. Creating a poem that is a truly unique to every reader’s personal experiences with their father. Bibliography Roethke, Theodore. “My Papa’s Waltz”.The Bedford Introduction to Literature:Fifth Edtion.EDS.Micheal Meyer.Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin,1999. 871-872.