Final answer:
The number of beats in a line from "My Papa's Waltz" will align with the waltz rhythm's three-quarter time, usually featuring a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. To determine the exact number, one should read the line aloud and count the stressed syllables.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks how many beats a specific line from the poem "My Papa's Waltz" contains. This poem is often arranged in a three-quarter time or waltz rhythm, which means each stanza tends to have a consistent beat pattern. Because I don't have the specific line in question, I cannot provide an exact count. However, generally speaking, in poetry, the meter determines the beat. For "My Papa's Waltz", the beat pattern usually falls within the waltz rhythm.
To determine the number of beats, the student may count the stresses in the line. This can be done by reading the line aloud and listening for the natural emphasis on words or syllables. If the line adheres strictly to the waltz rhythm, it will have a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, typically resulting in either three beats per line (each beat possibly consisting of a pair of a stressed followed by one or two unstressed syllables) or multiples thereof, reflective of the dance's time signature.