Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Both My Grandmothers 1. My Polish Grandma," Edward Field weaves a poignant narrative that highlights the struggles and perseverance of his Polish grandmother's journey to America. Through a mix of historical detail, family memory, and vivid imagery, the poem conveys the courage and determination of immigrants seeking a better life amid profound challenges.

The poem begins with a dramatic opening: “Grandma and the children left at night / It was forbidden to go.” This sets a tone of urgency and danger, immediately immersing the reader in the oppressive circumstances of the time. The following lines outline the threat posed by the Czar's regime: “In those days / the Czar and his cossacks rode through the town at whim / killing Jews and setting fire to straw roofs.” This reference to the pogroms that plagued Jewish communities in Eastern Europe adds a sense of historical gravity to the narrative.

Field juxtaposes this brutality with the indifferent cruelty of local Poles: “while just down the road the local Poles / sat laughing as they drank liquor.” This contrast underscores the vulnerability of Jewish families like Field’s, who faced both direct violence and the apathy of their neighbors.

The poem then shifts to the family's journey, explaining that the grandfather had already made the journey to America: “Grandpa had gone to America first / and earned the money for the rest of the family to come over.” This established the groundwork for the grandmother's departure with her children, emphasizing the family's hopeful but precarious situation.

The hired agent tasked with smuggling them across borders is portrayed as an “impatient man,” frustrated with the grandmother's inability to “round up the kids fast enough for him.” Field vividly describes the grandmother's physical and emotional strain: “carrying food for all of them and their clothes / and could she leave behind her pots? / Her legs hurt already, they were always swollen / from the hard work, the childbearing, and the cold.”

This section paints a powerful image of the grandmother’s perseverance despite her fatigue, physical pain, and fear for her children. The perilous train journey adds to the tension: “The children mustn't speak or he would know they were Jewish, / they had no permits to travel--Jews weren't allowed.” The agent bribes officials to facilitate the journey, demonstrating how “money got you everywhere.”

Crossing the border is described as the “worst” part of the journey, as the family had to “sneak across at night” while remaining completely silent: “The children mustn't make a sound, not even the babies.” Field captures the terror and confusion of the six-year-old mother, unsure of what to do but determined not to make any mistakes. The agent’s ruthless pragmatism is evident in his threat to “smother” any crying children if necessary.

Eventually, the family reaches the port, but even there they face betrayal: “Grandpa had arranged for cabin passage, not steerage, / but the agent cheated and put them in the hold.” This deceit forces the family to endure the journey in the ship’s hold, “on the low deck looking up at the rich people.” The grandmother’s nurturing spirit shines through as she cares for her children amid these dire conditions. The vivid detail of the sea journey adds authenticity to the narrative: “how Jake didn’t move anymore he was so seasick, maybe even dead, / and if people thought he was dead / they would throw him overboard like garbage, so she hid him.”

The poem shifts from a specific story to a broader reflection on the immigrant experience. The family arrives in New York City, with the young mother adjusting to the new environment: “My mamma who had been roly-poly in slow Poland / got skinny and pimply in zippy New York.” This physical transformation represents the broader cultural assimilation that the family undergoes.

Field concludes the poem with a poignant reflection on the passage of time and memory: “And now my grandma is dead and my momma is old / and we her children are all scattered over the earth / speaking a different language and forgetting / why it was so important / to go to a new country.” These lines capture the bittersweet reality of the immigrant experience, where the sacrifices of previous generations are often forgotten by their descendants, who have grown up in a different world.

Structurally, the poem is written in free verse, allowing Field to tell the story in a conversational and narrative style. The lack of formal constraints reflects the fluidity of memory and enhances the intimacy of the family narrative. His use of straightforward, unembellished language conveys the emotional weight of the journey without veering into sentimentality.

Overall, “Both My Grandmothers 1. My Polish Grandma” is a powerful tribute to the courage and resilience of Edward Field’s grandmother, capturing the immigrant experience with both historical specificity and universal empathy. By blending personal memory with historical context, Field crafts a poem that honors the sacrifices of those who sought a better life in America while reflecting on the complexities of cultural assimilation.

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