Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Duhamel’s poem "Asthma" vividly portrays the experiences and challenges of living with asthma through the eyes of a child. The narrative weaves together a sense of vulnerability with resilience, portraying how the condition impacts daily life and the child’s perceptions of normalcy and safety. Duhamel uses a specific and relatable event—a trip to the movies—to delve into the deeper psychological and physical struggles associated with the condition, capturing a detailed and empathetic portrait of childhood asthma.

The poem opens with a scene that immediately connects the physical condition of asthma with the child’s emotional world. The child begs to see a movie about Santa Claus going to the moon, signaling a longing for normal childhood experiences despite health vulnerabilities. The mention of the first day "not wheezing for a while" and the mother’s hesitation due to potential triggers like "sudden temperature changes" introduces the constant calculations and risks involved in managing asthma.

Duhamel’s depiction of asthma extends beyond the physical symptoms to include the social and psychological dimensions of the condition. The reference to a casket "the length of my sled" whisked away at a funeral home underscores the child's acute awareness of mortality, a heavy burden for a young mind. This imagery poignantly illustrates how asthma forces the child to confront concepts of death and fragility early in life.

The metaphor of belonging "in a glass globe, where the snow isn't cold" beautifully captures the desire for a protective barrier from the external elements that threaten the child’s health. This imagined safe space contrasts sharply with the harsh realities of their condition, where even a fun outing can become a life-threatening event. The glass globe also symbolizes isolation, highlighting how asthma can make the child feel separated from the spontaneity and carefreeness of typical childhood experiences.

The narrative continues with a description of waking up in hospitals and the strategies employed to manage the condition at home—covering the mattress, encasing stuffed animals in plastic, and preferring to watch fish through a tank instead of interacting with pets. These details paint a vivid picture of the extensive precautions necessary to safeguard the child's health, emphasizing the daily impact of asthma on their life and the constant vigilance it requires.

Duhamel’s use of a moment of forgetfulness at the movie theater, leading to a choking incident, serves as a climax in the poem, highlighting the constant presence of danger in the child's life. The child’s attempt to swallow pills with popcorn, a seemingly mundane action, turns into a moment of crisis, illustrating how asthma infiltrates every aspect of their life, turning ordinary activities into potential hazards.

The poem concludes with the child fixated on the missed movie and wondering about the air quality in an astronaut’s helmet, reflecting a continued longing for escape and adventure despite their physical limitations. The final line, pondering the possibility of running up a hill if weightless, poignantly captures the child's yearning for freedom from the constraints of their body—a freedom that they imagine could be possible in the boundless realms of space.

Overall, "Asthma" by Denise Duhamel is a powerful, evocative exploration of childhood asthma, skillfully blending the daily realities of the condition with the broader emotional and existential impacts it has on a child’s life. Through precise imagery and poignant metaphors, Duhamel offers a deep, empathetic insight into the resilience and imagination of a child navigating life with a chronic health condition.

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