In the poem "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke, the speaker is reflecting a childhood experience involving his father. Through diction and details, the speaker conveys his complex attitude toward his father. He reveals his feelings of both enjoy the experience with his father as well as struggle with his father.

The entire poem describes a literal dance between the boy and the father. When first read it, it appears the young boy is afraid of his father. The first line of the poem writes: "The whiskey on your breath; could make a small boy dizzy." Apparently, the father just had whisky and the smell of it is still remaining in his mouth, which causes the young boy's aversion. The diction of "dizzy" depicts the young boy is getting overwhelmed by the smell of the drink. Imaging how a little child feels when he notices the strange smell...