Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

FROM POLAND, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Edward Field’s poem “From Poland” explores themes of heritage, memory, and the contrasting perspectives of different generations within a family. Through a blend of letters, personal anecdotes, and historical reflections, Field paints a poignant picture of the Jewish immigrant experience, touching on the nostalgia for a lost homeland and the lingering scars of the Holocaust.

The poem begins with a letter from the speaker’s sister, describing her impressions of contemporary Poland: “After soulless Germany,” my sister writes, “to be in an absolutely soulful land…” This contrast between Germany and Poland sets the stage for an exploration of the latter’s "soulful" qualities, despite the “bureaucracy frightening, but everyone used to it.” The description of people “patiently standing on line” and the local currency, the złoty, “not buying much even if there were anything to buy,” provides a snapshot of post-communist Poland. The sister finds the people “sweet and helpful and unspoiled,” which evokes a romantic image of a country rooted in tradition.

The sister’s letter continues to describe their family village, Lamaz, and its proximity to Warsaw: “Ma said that from Lamaz, her village, / Warsaw was a two-day trip by horse and wagon. / My sister writes that now / ‘it’s an hour by superhighway.’” This juxtaposition of past and present emphasizes the rapid modernization that has changed Poland. Despite these changes, traces of the old Poland remain: “Some old houses are still there,” including one where “a countrywoman / came out.” The poignant encounter between the sister, “in western clothes,” and the woman, whose daughter wears “torn leggings and a quilted vest,” underscores the cultural and economic divide between them.

Inside the old house, “just a little room / with a porcelain stove in the corner / and a bunk on each wall,” the sister imagines the simplicity and coziness of life in the village. The sister’s description mirrors stories their mother told of her childhood in Lamaz: “Ma always said her brother, Jake, the favorite, got to sleep on top of the stove. / She slept in the rafters with the chickens / and the barrel of herring and sack of groats to last the winter.”

The poem shifts to anecdotes about the family’s life in Poland, particularly their mother’s childhood. The mother was called “little pig” because she was “so fat,” and was too slow to join her sister Esther in blackberry picking. Esther is described as “the smart one, who learned to read and write / and kept in touch with their father in America.” These details create a vivid picture of a tight-knit yet imperfect family.

The poem also touches on the scandal surrounding their mother’s father: “He was a tinsmith and when he worked on the church roof / drank with the priest. But then, he was half-goy, / the child of his mother’s love affair with a Polish landowner.” This familial history of interfaith relationships adds another layer of complexity to their heritage, as their mother “was always taken for Christian.”

Field includes an anecdote illustrating the mother’s complicated relationship with her father. After emigrating to America, she saw him at the dock: “I was so happy to see him at the dock, / but when I picked up a pretty candy box in the gutter / in wonder at such a treasure being thrown away, / he smacked me across the face and called me dumbbell.” This harsh treatment shattered her idealized image of her father, leading her to tear up his photograph: “I was only happy in Lamaz.”

The poem concludes with the sister’s reflections on the fate of the Jewish community in Lamaz: “We asked the oldest people in town / about the Jews. . . . None left, they told me, vaguely, / the Nazi time was the end of them.” The Jewish cemetery has been reduced to “a grassy area with trees, fenced in,” symbolizing the erasure of a once-vibrant community.

Structurally, the poem is written in free verse, allowing Field to weave together letters, memories, and reflections in a fluid and natural manner. The use of letters provides a framework for the narrative, while the direct quotes from the mother and sister add authenticity and immediacy to the poem.

Overall, “From Poland” by Edward Field is a poignant meditation on memory, heritage, and the immigrant experience. By blending personal anecdotes with historical reflections, Field captures the complexities of longing for a lost homeland and the enduring impact of the Holocaust on Jewish families. The poem’s exploration of cultural identity and familial connections makes it a compelling and thought-provoking work.


Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net