Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Norman Harris's poem "Bronchitis" offers a touching narrative that intertwines themes of illness, family tradition, and the bond between generations. The poem explores the impact of a childhood illness on the speaker's life, the disruption of cultural practices, and the deep connection between the speaker and his grandfather. Through its straightforward storytelling, the poem reveals the ways in which family dynamics and cultural identity are both challenged and strengthened in the face of adversity.

The poem begins with the speaker recounting the advice given by Doctor Potts: "Doctor Potts told my mom to give me bacon. / He said it was full of iron and would help / Me get rid of the bronchitis." This opening sets the stage for the central conflict in the poem—between the medical advice aimed at improving the speaker's health and the family's religious commitment to keeping a kosher home. The prescribed bacon, while seemingly a simple remedy, represents a significant departure from the family's dietary practices, marking the beginning of a broader disruption in their lives.

The bronchitis that kept the speaker home from school "for a semester / When I was nine" becomes the catalyst for this disruption. The illness is more than just a physical ailment; it is a source of tension within the family, as they must navigate the demands of caring for a sick child while adhering to their cultural and religious values. The doctor's well-intentioned advice to use bacon—a non-kosher food—leads to a critical decision that alters the family's way of life: "The bacon ended our keeping a kosher home!"

This line, delivered with a touch of irony, underscores the weight of the decision to abandon the kosher practice. The use of the word "ended" suggests a definitive break from tradition, one that has lasting consequences for the family. The impact of this decision is further emphasized by the speaker's mention of his grandfather: "And my grandpa had to move back to his own house later." The grandfather, who presumably adhered more strictly to the kosher laws, could no longer live with the family once they stopped observing these dietary restrictions. This move symbolizes the generational and cultural divide that the introduction of bacon into the home creates.

Despite the upheaval caused by the change in dietary practice, the speaker recounts the positive outcomes that followed: "But I got better, gained weight and / Went back to school in the fall." The speaker’s recovery and return to school mark a return to normalcy, suggesting that the difficult decision to break kosher was, at least in part, successful in addressing the health crisis. Yet, the poem does not attribute the speaker’s recovery solely to the bacon. Instead, it shifts focus to the speaker's relationship with his grandfather.

While living with the family, the grandfather "taught / Me to play casino, to box, and told me / Stories about the old country." These activities represent more than just pastimes; they are a means of passing down cultural knowledge, skills, and family history. The grandfather's presence in the home provides the speaker with a sense of connection to his heritage, offering a kind of healing that goes beyond the physical. The stories about the "old country" link the speaker to his roots, giving him a sense of identity and continuity.

The poem concludes with the speaker's reflection: "I think / he helped me to get well more than the bacon did!" This final line is both a statement of affection and a recognition of the intangible benefits that the grandfather brought to the speaker's life. While the bacon may have contributed to the speaker’s physical recovery, it is the love, attention, and cultural transmission from the grandfather that the speaker values most. The grandfather's influence is portrayed as a source of emotional and psychological strength, suggesting that healing is not just a matter of physical treatment but also of nurturing the soul and spirit.

In "Bronchitis," Norman Harris beautifully captures the complexities of family life, particularly in the context of cultural and generational differences. The poem reflects on the difficult choices that families must make in times of crisis and the ways in which these decisions can both challenge and reinforce family bonds. Through its exploration of illness, tradition, and the enduring impact of a grandparent's love, the poem reminds us that healing and well-being are multifaceted, involving not just the body, but the heart and mind as well.

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