Memory Poem
In the following poem the author, Theodore Roethke, describes a childhood memory. As you read the
poem, My Papa’s Waltz, pay close attention to the imagery Roethke uses to recreate his memory of being
waltzed around the room on his father’s feet.
Remember, imagery consists of descriptive words and phrases that appeal to the five senses- sight, sound,
taste, touch, and smell. For example, the following lines appeal to both sight and sound as you imagine
the pans sliding and crashing to the floor:
We romped until the pans
Slid from the kitchen shelf;
Poetry has a lot of information and description crammed into a little space, therefore, read the following
poem three times all the way through to make sure you don’t miss anything. Notice how each time you
read the poem it becomes easier to understand.
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.
* countenance: face or facial expression
Comprehension Check
Answer the following questions using complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is happening in this poem? Explain the images in detail.
2. How would you describe the father in this poem? What type of man is he? Cite specific lines to
support your statements.
3. How do you think the boy feels about being waltzed by his father?
Think about: the way he holds onto his father
the physical experiences he describes
the title of the poem.
4. List three examples of imagery from the poem. Copy the words or phrases and state which sense
or senses it appeals to.
Now it is time to write your own memory poem using descriptive words and
phrases to create vivid imagery. Without talking or sharing, follow the steps below
to write your poem.
Step One: Close your eyes and clear your mind with some deep breathing and,
perhaps, neck rolls.
Step Two: Picture a person in your life. See this person physically in sharp
detail. Hear this person’s voice, and create a clear image in your
mind’s eye.
Step Three: Now place this person in an event with you- a memory that still has a
great impact on you or brings forth strong feelings. Once again,
imagine the details of this event in your mind.
Step Four: Now run a film strip of the event in your mind. See all the details of
the person and you: the interaction, the actions and speech, the sounds
and smells. Replay the event in your mind’s eye.
Step Five: Now, quickly, without thinking, draw a quick sketch to capture the
relative positions of you and your person at the moment of your event.
Let your sketch also capture the general setting.
Step Six:
Now, still without taking or sharing, free write in the space below
about your memory. Let your writing capture the film strip that you
ran through your mind.
Step Seven: Now, write your poem. Use your free-write and your sketch to create
a poem in which you capture your person and memory. Include lots
of imagery. You might begin with the phrase “I see you…”
Your finished poem MUST be at least 4-6 four line stanzas!