Theodore+Roethke*

// I Knew A Woman * //
- The first few lines of the first stanza demonstrate how Roethke plays with language, especially utilizing repetition to emphasize his message. - The readers are able to feel the emotions that the speaker feels and experience the same emotions of pain and happiness. - Roethke uses a first-person narrative to make the poem more intimate and personal. - This woman is "lovely in her bones", illustrating that she is not only physically beautiful, but also beautiful on the inside. - Even though time has taken a toll on her outer appearances, the speaker believes that her inner beauty is able to shine through.

// My Papa's Waltz * //
- The title of the poem suggests that this is the father's waltz and that the boy is merely a participant, who follows but is not content. - The ruckus they caused by "dancing" caused the mother to disapprove with a frown on her mouth. - The battered knuckle and the "palm cake hard by dirt" suggests that the father is a hard working man and not necessarily that he beat his child. - Tells the story of a son who is constantly vying for his father's attention and love. - This poem could relate back to the time in Roethke's life when his father was diagnosed was cancer.