The simile “But I hung on like death” (3) in Theodore Roethke’s poem allows the writer to clearly set the darker tone of “My Papa’s Waltz”. In this poem, the poet describes his father’s odd behavior. He also defines that alcohol was a factor and, consequently, his mother’s disapproved of the father’s actions. Also, the metaphors “such waltzing was not easy” (4) and “then waltzed me off to bed” (15) set the stage that there is an awkward physical exchange between the father and son. In addition, the second paragraph sets the mood with the imagery found in the description of the mother. “My mother’s countenance /could not unfrown itself.” (7-8) The comparisons used in the metaphors & the simile clearly express the anger and hurt involved