In his poem “My Papa’s Waltz”, poet Theodore Roethke utilizes disturbing imagery and a gloomy tone to illustrate the idea that a person out of control can cause more damage to people surrounding them than themselves. The poem describes a young child who is forced to do the popular dance, The Waltz, by their father. The drunk father beats his son every time the child makes a mistake during the dance. During these events, the mother of the minor stands by helplessly.

Throughout the poem the author uses imagery and tone to immerse the reader within the poem. The use of deep and disturbing imagery allows the reader to better understand the narrator’s point of view as well as how the issue being displayed relates to themselves. The issue of alcohol