The Li-Young Lee Lowdown: Stephanie Ho and Lauren Ellis A Presentation on the Poet Li-Young Lee

Biographical Info Was Born August 19, 1957, in Jakarta, Indonesia Was Born August 19, 1957, in Jakarta, Indonesia Has great pride in his Chinese heritage Has great pride in his Chinese heritage Mother was daughter of 1 st president of Republic of China Mother was daughter of 1 st president of Republic of China Father personal doctor to Mao Zedong Father personal doctor to Mao Zedong Father was one year political prisoner Father was one year political prisoner This led to the family being on the run This led to the family being on the run Ended up in America around the time Lee was 7 Ended up in America around the time Lee was 7

Influences on Lee’s Work Childhood spent on the run Childhood spent on the run Grew up in American culture Grew up in American culture Close relationship with his father Close relationship with his father His father went blind His father went blind

Lee’s Style Strength Strength Silence Silence Simplicity Simplicity Inspired by classical Chinese poets Inspired by classical Chinese poets Structure Structure Irregular stanza organization Irregular stanza organization No specific rhyming pattern No specific rhyming pattern

Themes & Motifs Everyday/trivial things Everyday/trivial things Fatherhood and childhood Fatherhood and childhood Differences b/w American and Chinese culture Differences b/w American and Chinese culture Fruit (Persimmons and Blossoms) Fruit (Persimmons and Blossoms) Fire, light, ice… Fire, light, ice…

“Early in the Morning” While the long grain is softening in the water, gurgling over a low stove flame, before the salted Winter Vegetable is sliced for breakfast, before the birds, my mother glides an ivory comb through her hair, heavy and black as calligrapher's ink. She sits at the foot of the bed. My father watches, listens for the music of comb against hair. While the long grain is softening in the water, gurgling over a low stove flame, before the salted Winter Vegetable is sliced for breakfast, before the birds, my mother glides an ivory comb through her hair, heavy and black as calligrapher's ink. She sits at the foot of the bed. My father watches, listens for the music of comb against hair. My mother combs, pulls her hair back tight, rolls it around two fingers, pins it in a bun to the back of her head. For half a hundred years she has done this. My father likes to see it like this. He says it is kempt. My mother combs, pulls her hair back tight, rolls it around two fingers, pins it in a bun to the back of her head. For half a hundred years she has done this. My father likes to see it like this. He says it is kempt. But I know it is because of the way my mother's hair falls when he pulls the pins out. Easily, like the curtains when they untie them in the evening. But I know it is because of the way my mother's hair falls when he pulls the pins out. Easily, like the curtains when they untie them in the evening.

Literary Criticism Generally: Generally: Emphasizes his Chinese heritage Emphasizes his Chinese heritage Based on turbulent childhood memories Based on turbulent childhood memories Most poems concern his father – a strong presence in Lee’s life. Most poems concern his father – a strong presence in Lee’s life. Expert use of metaphors Expert use of metaphors Formal grace Formal grace Powerful Powerful Sensory Sensory “…graceful layering of short, declarative phrases…” “…graceful layering of short, declarative phrases…” The Weight of Sweetness: The Weight of Sweetness: “‘Surprising’ structure”: abstract  concrete “‘Surprising’ structure”: abstract  concrete “Reverse” fairytale “Reverse” fairytale

Literary Criticism The City in Which I Love You (Publisher’s Weekly): The City in Which I Love You (Publisher’s Weekly): “Weaves a remarkable web of memory from the multifarious fibers of his experience.” “Weaves a remarkable web of memory from the multifarious fibers of his experience.” “Images are economical yet fluid, and his language is often startling for its brave honesty.” “Images are economical yet fluid, and his language is often startling for its brave honesty.” “A kaleidoscope of dreams and nightmares…” “A kaleidoscope of dreams and nightmares…” Persimmons Persimmons “…reaches into the murky depths of memory to salvage cherishable characteristics of his parents and their culture…” “…reaches into the murky depths of memory to salvage cherishable characteristics of his parents and their culture…”

Agree Master use of tone  “graceful layering” Master use of tone  “graceful layering” Father & childhood had large impact Father & childhood had large impact Metaphors Metaphors Memories Memories Powerful, sensory, formal grace… Powerful, sensory, formal grace…

Disagree Style cannot be explained by heritage Style cannot be explained by heritage Didn’t know parent’s heritage well Didn’t know parent’s heritage well Not always short, declarative sentences Not always short, declarative sentences

“From Blossoms” “From Blossoms” From blossoms comes this brown paper bag of peaches we bought from the boy at the bend in the road where we turned toward signs painted Peaches. From laden boughs, from hands, from sweet fellowship in the bins, comes nectar at the roadside, succulent peaches we devour, dusty skin and all, comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat. From blossoms comes this brown paper bag of peaches we bought from the boy at the bend in the road where we turned toward signs painted Peaches. From laden boughs, from hands, from sweet fellowship in the bins, comes nectar at the roadside, succulent peaches we devour, dusty skin and all, comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat. O, to take what we love inside, to carry within us an orchard, to eat not only the skin, but the shade, not only the sugar, but the days, to hold the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into the round jubilance of peach. There are days we live as if death were nowhere in the background; from joy to joy to joy, from wing to wing, from blossom to blossom to impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom. O, to take what we love inside, to carry within us an orchard, to eat not only the skin, but the shade, not only the sugar, but the days, to hold the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into the round jubilance of peach. There are days we live as if death were nowhere in the background; from joy to joy to joy, from wing to wing, from blossom to blossom to impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.

Conclusions Lee’s style is unique due to the fact that he is the second generation of Asian- American. Lee’s style is unique due to the fact that he is the second generation of Asian- American. Poems center around memories, nature, differences in culture. Poems center around memories, nature, differences in culture. Strong voice, simplicity in style. Strong voice, simplicity in style. Metaphors play huge part in many of his poems. Metaphors play huge part in many of his poems.