Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Louis Simpson’s poem "Typhus" presents a poignant and harrowing exploration of survival, loss, and the deep scars left by traumatic experiences. Through the story of a young girl who nearly dies during a typhus epidemic, the poem captures the fragility of life, the innocence of childhood, and the devastating impact of illness and poverty.

The poem opens with an evocative image drawn from a fairy tale: "The whole earth was covered with snow, / and the Snow Queen’s sleigh came gliding." This reference to Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Snow Queen" sets a tone of coldness and peril, suggesting the harsh and unforgiving nature of the world in which the girl finds herself. The image of the Snow Queen, a figure often associated with death and winter, adds a layer of menace to the narrative, as the girl "ran, and ran, till I was out of breath." This frantic running away can be seen as a metaphor for the girl’s desperate struggle to escape the grip of the disease.

The poem then shifts to the stark reality of the typhus epidemic, where the girl nearly succumbs to the illness. Her survival is attributed to the kindness of a neighbor, "the woman who lived next door / and cooked for her and watched by the bed." This act of care highlights the theme of human compassion in the face of overwhelming adversity, emphasizing how communal support can make the difference between life and death.

However, when the girl returns to consciousness, she faces the physical and emotional aftermath of her illness. "They had cut off all her hair" and "burned her clothing," actions that symbolize both the necessity of removing the disease’s remnants and the loss of the girl’s former identity. The burning of her doll, "the only one she ever had, / made out of rags and a stick," is particularly tragic, as it represents the destruction of the few comforts and attachments she had in her young life. The doll, made from simple materials, embodies the innocence and creativity of childhood, and its loss is a poignant reminder of the emotional toll the illness has taken.

The narrative then follows the girl as she is sent away to Odessa to stay with relatives, a common practice when families could no longer care for a sick child or when they needed to convalesce. The day she is to return home, she buys some plums as a gift for her family. These plums, described as something extraordinary—"They had never seen such plums!"—are a symbol of her love and her desire to bring joy back to her family after the hardship they have endured. The fact that she spends her last few kopecks on this gift underscores her selflessness and the deep connection she feels to her family.

However, the journey home takes three days, and the plums begin to spoil in the heat. The girl’s decision to eat the plums, even as she cries, is a powerful moment in the poem. It captures the tension between her initial intentions and the harsh reality she faces—she consumes the plums out of necessity and despair, yet each one brings her sorrow. The astonishment of the other passengers at "A child who would eat a plum / and cry… then eat another!" highlights the paradox of her situation: the simple act of eating a plum, which should bring pleasure, becomes a source of sadness and loss.

The final lines of the poem bring the narrative back to the theme of death and poverty, as the girl’s sister, Lisa, succumbs to typhus. The description of Lisa’s corpse being laid on the floor and carried to the cemetery in a box is stark and unembellished, reflecting the grim realities faced by the poor. The detail that the box was brought back because "We were poor—a box was worth something" is a chilling reminder of the dire economic circumstances in which the family lives. Even in death, the practicalities of survival overshadow the emotional weight of the loss.

"Typhus" is a powerful meditation on the human condition, exploring how illness, poverty, and grief intersect to shape the experiences of those who live through them. Through the lens of a child’s experience, Simpson reveals the profound impact of trauma and the ways in which people, even in their innocence, are forced to navigate a world that is often harsh and unforgiving. The poem’s imagery and narrative create a deeply moving portrait of survival and loss, reminding readers of the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

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