Providing for a family can be difficult. In many cases, fathers must work countless hours to keep the family afloat. Therefore, they rarely have time to interact and bond with their families, which creates problems for them to form a happy relationship with their children. The love that fathers show towards their children can be taken for granted. The poems “My Papa's Waltz” by Theodore Roethke and “My Winter Sundays” by Hayden Robert illustrate this experience in two different scenarios. The poet in “My Papa's Waltz” describes the experience by recalling the times when he argued with his father. While the poet in “My Winter Sundays” describes the experience more sadly and gratefully when he realizes how much his father has done for him. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The fathers in both poems are described similarly as both poems talk about the problems of a working father. Theodore Roethke in “My Papa's Waltz” tells the story of a child and his memories that happened late at night with his father (perhaps his own childhood). His memories seem to be of his father. His father appears to be an alcoholic as he is often drunk when he arrives home late at night smelling of alcohol. Once her father is home, she waits to waltz with him. The poem then goes on to say that they danced until the pots in the kitchen slipped off the kitchen shelf. The poem also describes the father as having battered knuckles and rough palms, which suggests that he works hard and perhaps a lot. Finally, his father put him to sleep in bed. In “Those Winter Sundays”, Hayden Robert also tells the story of a child and his memories with his father (perhaps even his own childhood). His memories describe the times his father would wake up each morning to get dressed for work in the cold darkness and before leaving he would prepare the family for the morning. He prepared the family by gathering firewood and keeping the house warm and then waking the family. Although he didn't get any thanks, he did it anyway. Overall, the fathers in both poems are hard working men trying to support their families and rarely have time to bond with their children. In both poems, the poets describe a flashback of their own with much respect and love for their fathers. The title "My Papa Waltz" infers that the poet respected and loved his father. When children call their dad “daddy,” it shows that they are close and that they admire and respect their father because “daddy” is a friendly word that is more personal than saying “daddy” or “father.” Furthermore, the word “waltz” implies a joyous and formal dance. As a result, the title of Roethke's poem and the way he sometimes describes his father in the poem are generally positive. Another example of the child's respect and affection for his father is shown by the things he neglects and ignores to continue dancing with his father. For example, the child ignores the discomfort his ear feels when it rubs against the belt buckle. Also, in the poem, it states “the whiskey on your breath / Could make a little boy dizzy; / But I resisted like death.” Roethke does not appear to completely approve of everything his father does to or for him, yet he still loves him despite his drunkenness and sometimes aggressive behavior. In Hayden's poem, he remembers his father as selfless and selfless as he says, "Even on Sundays my father got up early," meaning he worked on Sundays too. Furthermore, the child has no negative comments about his father other than not being close to him. Remember your father with respect and love,?".” 1942.