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In the poems “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes and “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, metaphors and allegories are used to add depth to the descriptions. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes is an allegorical depiction of the history of the black race. In the poem, a black man talks about the rivers he has known, “ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins,” and the historical events he has witnessed (“The Negro Speaks of Rivers”). The author implies that the “black soul” has incorporated all of this historical experience and “has grown deep like the rivers” (“The Negro Speaks of Rivers”). The poem stresses each individual’s connection with their race and human civilization in general.
“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke depicts a scene of a father and son dancing together, with dance used as a metaphor to describe the father-son relationship. The boy clings to his drunken father, who dances around the house, although his movements are clumsy, and the smell of whiskey makes the boy dizzy. The poetic language is used to convey the boy’s mixed feelings. On the one hand, he is uncomfortable and afraid of his father: “At every step you missed / My right ear scraped a buckle” (“My Papa’s Waltz”). On the other hand, he enjoys his company and the closeness between them: “Then waltzed me off to bed / Still clinging to your shirt” (“My Papa’s Waltz”). The poem uses metaphors to address the topics of parental roles, alcoholism, and child security. Overall, both “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and “My Papa’s Waltz” are examples of poems that reach the reader through simple but powerful poetic devices.
Works Cited
Hughes, Langston. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Poetry Foundation, n.d.
Roethke, Theodore. “My Papa’s Waltz.” Poetry Foundation, n.d.
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