"My Papa's Waltz" Poem Explication

Title: The title signifies that this author, Theodore Roethke, see a close family member of his family, like his father, intoxicated that the waltz dance brings out the humorous side to him. This dance prepares the family for the worst because this it is seen so much. Paraphrase: The smell on your breath can affect a child; but I would never give in for it wasn't easy. We frolicked so much pans slide from the …

…do, there will always be someone who depends on him or her and will always love him or her. An example of the poem helps support this, "Still clinging to your shirt," this implies that they do depend on them because this is an act of immaturity. "Held on like death," provides another example because the death grip is a never ever letting go grip, it holds on forever and doesn't want to let go.