Watch me waltz

The poem, My Papa's Waltz, is very intriguing. Listening to the poem being read allows us to visualize and feel this dance between father and son. But, the relationship between the two characters in the poem is somewhat obscure. Early on, we are told that "Pappa" is a heavy drinker. The imagery in the poem depicts that the author was scared of his father, that they had a sort of distant relationship. We realize that the alcoholism in the family had a great effect on the author and how he grew up. But, we also notice the playful side to the story: the actual waltzing. Pappa dances around the room with him, playfully swinging him around. We get an insight that Pappa was a hard worker with his "palms caked with dirt." Fathers are supposed to be role models to their sons, so this visual of work ethic also had an impact on the author.