"My Papa's Waltz," by Theodore Roethke, and "Those Winter

Sundays," by Robert Hayden, are two somewhat similar poems about

respected fathers. To most people a father is not just the man who fertilizes

their mother's egg, but a man that spends time with and takes care of them.

While doing this, he gains their love and respect. In these two poems

Roethke and Hayden take an admiring look back at the actions of their

fathers, although; they both imply that their parents were not perfect.

In "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke describes an episode in his

childhood. In this, what seems to be regular, occurrence his drunken father

comes home for the night reeking of alcohol and begins dancing with him.

Roethke describes his father's hands as being battered on one knuckle and

extremely soiled. They "romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf"

(5-6). This made his mother so upset that she could do nothing but frown.

Finally, his father "waltzed" him on to bed.

In "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden, the poet also

relinquishes on a regular occurrence in his childhood. On Sunday mornings,

just as any other morning, his father rises early and puts on his clo

chronic angers of that house" (9). These angers are not specifically drawn out

of her husband coming home drunk every night. This may be a chronic

cold darkness. He then goes out in the cold and splits fire wood with which

experiences to help them in their adult life.

been the complete cause. She could have been frowning because she is tired

"My Papa's Waltz" and "Those Winter Sundays" are two poems that

Waltz" is clearly stated. He has a drinking problem. In relation to this the

but they could be of many things like the absence of a mother or the

father by stating that his hand is "caked hard with dirt" (14). This is

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 830
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)