And what a congress of stinks!- Roots ripe as old bait, Pulpy stems, rank, silo-rich, Leaf mold, manure, lime, piled against slippery planks, Nothing would give up life: Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.
Theodore RoethkeRead
My Papa's Waltz: The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the complex and bittersweet relationship between a father and son, highlighting both love and hardship.
In Theodore Roethke's 'My Papa's Waltz', the poem captures a childhood memory of a boy dancing with his father, evoking feelings of affection intertwined with the difficulties of a family life marked by struggle. The imagery of whiskey and a battered hand conveys both the intoxicating nature of love and the painful realities of existence, illustrating how cherished moments can coexist with challenges.
Themes
FatherSonFamilyDanceMemoryLoveHardship
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a Father's Day speech to highlight the complexities of father-son relationships.
More from Theodore Roethke
All quotes →Art is our defense against hysteria and death.
Theodore RoethkeRead
The indignity of it!-_x000D_ _x000D_ With everything blooming above me,_x000D_ _x000D_ Lilies, pale-pink cyclamen, roses,_x000D_ _x000D_ Whole fields lovely and inviolate,-_x000D_ _x000D_ Me down in the fetor of weeds,_x000D_ _x000D_ Crawling on all fours,_x000D_ _x000D_ Alive, in a slippery grave.
Theodore RoethkeRead
By daily dying, I have come to be.
Theodore RoethkeRead
The stones were sharp, The wind came at my back; Walking along the highway, Mincing like a cat.
Theodore RoethkeRead
The self says, I am; The heart says, I am less; The spirit says, you are Nothing.
Theodore RoethkeRead
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