Wow, What a Waltz...

In the poem, My Papa's Waltz, there is a very interesting usage of imagery words. I liked reading it because of the vivid image it leads you to see for yourself. The usage of words such as: waltzing, romped, slid, and when it talks about a "missed step" are giving you this idea that there is a dance going on when that's probably not what's happening. The only time I think Papa is conveyed as a warm person is when Roethke says Papa "waltzed him to bed". Otherwise, I feel like we, as readers, should fear him. A few of the lines allude to the fact that Papa may be abusive toward his son. The speaker seems to convey that he is talking to Papa like a conversation, but we have no response so this could mean it is a reflection of what happened earlier that day, week, month, etc. The mother plays a role of someone who tried to help/disagree but ended up not helping at all. Papa seems to be a drunk because of the line: "whiskey on your breath". But he could also be a hard worker because of the line: "palms caked with dirt." The rhythm and rhyme of the poem makes you think it is a song. The way the stanzas end in a similar way and the way the lines rhyme are similar to that of a song.