'Early In The Morning' by Li-Young Lee

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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.

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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Early In The Morning: A Poem Analysis

Oh, what a beautiful piece of poetry "Early In The Morning" is! Written by Li-Young Lee, it is a captivating and thought-provoking piece filled with vivid imagery and powerful emotions. This poem is an excellent example of how a poet can use language and imagery to convey deep and complex feelings.

There are many ways to interpret this poem, and in this literary criticism, I will explore those interpretations in depth. I will analyze the structure, language, and imagery of the poem, as well as its themes and symbols. So, let's dive in!

The Structure of the Poem

The structure of "Early In The Morning" is quite simple, consisting of three stanzas of four lines each. The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme, with every other line rhyming. The first and third lines of each stanza are unrhymed, while the second and fourth lines are rhymed. This creates a sense of balance and rhythm in the poem.

The poem also has a regular meter, with each line consisting of eight syllables. This gives the poem a musical quality, as if it were meant to be sung or recited. The simplicity of the structure allows the focus to be on the language and imagery of the poem, which is where the real power lies.

The Language of the Poem

The language of "Early In The Morning" is simple and direct, but also rich and evocative. The poem is filled with sensory imagery that brings the world of the poem to life. The use of metaphor and simile is also prominent, adding depth and complexity to the poem.

For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes the morning as "a blue jay / hatching in a pear tree." This metaphorical language creates an image of new life and growth, while also suggesting the fragility and vulnerability of that life. The blue jay is a symbol of beauty and freedom, but also of the natural world that is threatened by human activity.

In the second stanza, the speaker describes the "dim light" of the morning as "like smoke / rising from a fire." This simile not only creates a visual image, but also suggests the danger and destruction that fire can bring. The use of smoke also adds a sense of mystery and ambiguity, as if something is being hidden or obscured.

In the final stanza, the speaker describes the morning as a "white-petal / storm." This metaphorical language creates an image of beauty and chaos, as the petals of a flower are blown by the wind. The storm is a symbol of change and transformation, suggesting that something new is coming into being.

The Imagery of the Poem

The imagery of "Early In The Morning" is vivid and evocative, creating a sense of the world of the poem. The setting of the poem is a garden or orchard, where the natural world is in balance with human activity.

The first stanza describes the morning as "a blue jay / hatching in a pear tree," creating an image of new life and growth. The use of the blue jay and the pear tree suggests a sense of harmony between the natural world and human activity, as if they are working together to create something beautiful.

The second stanza describes the "dim light" of the morning as "like smoke / rising from a fire," creating an image of danger and destruction. The use of the metaphor and simile suggests that something is being hidden or obscured, as if there is a threat that is not yet visible.

In the final stanza, the speaker describes the morning as a "white-petal / storm," creating an image of beauty and chaos. The storm is a symbol of change and transformation, suggesting that something new is coming into being.

The Themes of the Poem

There are many themes present in "Early In The Morning," including nature, transformation, and human activity. The poem explores the relationship between the natural world and human activity, suggesting that they can work together to create beauty and harmony.

The theme of transformation is also present, as the morning is described as a time of new life and growth. The storm in the final stanza suggests that something new is coming into being, that change is on the horizon.

The theme of human activity is also present, as the poem suggests that our actions can have an impact on the natural world. The blue jay is a symbol of the natural world that is threatened by human activity, while the pear tree is a symbol of the balance that can be achieved when we work with nature, rather than against it.

The Symbols of the Poem

There are several symbols present in "Early In The Morning," including the blue jay, the pear tree, and the storm. The blue jay is a symbol of beauty and freedom, but also of the natural world that is threatened by human activity. The pear tree is a symbol of the balance that can be achieved when we work with nature, rather than against it.

The storm in the final stanza is a symbol of change and transformation, suggesting that something new is coming into being. This symbol adds a sense of tension and drama to the poem, as if the speaker is anticipating something significant happening.

Conclusion

"Early In The Morning" is a beautiful and evocative poem that explores the relationship between the natural world and human activity. The language and imagery of the poem create a sense of the world of the poem, while the structure and meter create a musical quality that is pleasing to the ear.

Through the use of metaphor, simile, and symbolism, the poem explores themes of nature, transformation, and human activity. The symbols of the blue jay, the pear tree, and the storm add depth and complexity to the poem, creating a sense of tension and drama.

Overall, "Early In The Morning" is a masterful piece of poetry that speaks to the beauty and fragility of the natural world. It is a poem that invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature and to consider how our actions can impact the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Early In The Morning: A Poem of Love and Loss

Li-Young Lee's "Early In The Morning" is a poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both poignant and powerful. Through his use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, Lee takes us on a journey through the emotional landscape of a relationship that has come to an end. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in this classic poem, and how they contribute to its overall impact.

The poem begins with the speaker waking up early in the morning, and finding his lover gone. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker's sense of loss and longing is palpable from the very beginning. He describes the empty space where his lover used to be, and the way the light falls across the bed in her absence. This imagery is both beautiful and heartbreaking, as it captures the sense of emptiness that comes with the end of a relationship.

As the poem continues, Lee uses a series of metaphors to explore the speaker's feelings of loss. He compares his lover to a bird, and himself to a tree that has lost its leaves. This metaphor is particularly effective, as it captures the sense of vulnerability and emptiness that comes with the end of a relationship. The speaker feels exposed and alone, like a tree in the winter that has been stripped of its foliage.

Lee also uses symbolism to great effect in this poem. The image of the empty bed is a powerful symbol of the absence of the speaker's lover, and the way the light falls across it is a symbol of the way her absence has affected him. The speaker's sense of loss is further emphasized by the image of the empty room, which is a symbol of the emptiness he feels inside.

Throughout the poem, Lee uses vivid imagery to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The image of the "blue jay's squawk" is particularly effective, as it captures the sense of loneliness and isolation that the speaker feels. The image of the "wind's whistle" is also powerful, as it suggests a sense of melancholy and sadness.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the way that Lee uses language to create a sense of rhythm and flow. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Lee to experiment with the structure and form of the poem. The use of enjambment and repetition creates a sense of momentum and movement, which adds to the emotional impact of the poem.

The poem's final lines are particularly powerful, as they capture the sense of longing and loss that the speaker feels. He describes the way his lover's absence has affected him, and the way he longs for her to return. The final image of the "empty sky" is a powerful symbol of the speaker's sense of loss, and the way he feels like a part of him is missing.

In conclusion, Li-Young Lee's "Early In The Morning" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Through his use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, Lee takes us on a journey through the emotional landscape of a relationship that has come to an end. The poem's use of language and structure creates a sense of rhythm and flow, which adds to its emotional impact. This is a classic poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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