'I Ask My Mother To Sing' by Li-Young Lee

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She begins, and my grandmother joins her.
Mother and daughter sing like young girls.
If my father were alive, he would play
his accordion and sway like a boat.

I've never been in Peking, or the Summer Palace,
nor stood on the great Stone Boat to watch
the rain begin on Kuen Ming Lake, the picnickers
running away in the grass.

But I love to hear it sung;
how the waterlilies fill with rain until
they overturn, spilling water into water,
then rock back, and fill with more,

Both women have begun to cry.
But neither stops her song.

Editor 1 Interpretation

I Ask My Mother To Sing: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you familiar with the poem, "I Ask My Mother To Sing" by Li-Young Lee? If not, then you're in for a treat because this classic poem is a masterpiece that deserves our attention.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used by Li-Young Lee to convey his message through this poem.

Background Information

Before we dive into the analysis, let's briefly discuss the background of the poet and the poem. Li-Young Lee was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1957, to Chinese parents who fled China during the Communist Revolution. His father was a personal physician to Mao Zedong, and his grandfather was the first president of the Republic of China.

"I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a personal poem that reflects on Lee's childhood memories of his mother's singing. The poem was first published in his debut collection, "Rose," in 1986, and has since become one of his signature works.

Themes

One of the main themes of this poem is the power of music and the role it plays in preserving cultural heritage. The poem is a tribute to Lee's mother and her ability to keep their Chinese heritage alive through her singing.

Throughout the poem, Lee emphasizes the importance of his mother's singing as a way to connect with his Chinese heritage. He recalls how her singing brings back memories of his childhood and how it serves as a reminder of his cultural roots.

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of language as a means of preserving cultural identity. Lee's mother sings in Chinese, and he acknowledges that he does not understand all the words, but he still appreciates the beauty of the language and the emotions it conveys.

Symbols

The poem is rich in symbolism, and some of the most notable symbols include:

• The piano: In the poem, the piano represents the Western influence on Lee's family's cultural heritage. Lee's mother sings in Chinese, but she accompanies herself on the piano, which is a Western instrument. The presence of the piano suggests that Lee's family has been exposed to Western culture, but they still value their Chinese heritage.

• The gold brocade: Lee mentions a gold brocade that his mother wore when she sang. The brocade symbolizes the richness and beauty of Chinese culture. It also suggests that Lee's family was once wealthy and had the means to buy expensive clothing.

• The moon: In the last stanza of the poem, Lee compares his mother's singing to the moon. The moon is a symbol of beauty, mystery, and timelessness. By comparing his mother's singing to the moon, Lee suggests that her singing is a timeless and beautiful expression of their Chinese heritage.

Literary Devices

Li-Young Lee uses several literary devices to convey his message and create a vivid image of his childhood memories. Some of the most significant literary devices used in the poem include:

• Imagery: The poem is rich in imagery, and Lee uses sensory details to create a vivid picture of his mother's singing. For example, he describes her voice as "a river" and "a silk thread." These descriptions evoke the smooth and fluid quality of his mother's singing.

• Metaphor: Throughout the poem, Lee uses metaphor to compare his mother's singing to various natural phenomena. For example, he compares her singing to "a bird calling in the dark" and "the sound of wind." These metaphors emphasize the beauty and natural quality of his mother's singing.

• Repetition: Lee uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and reinforce his message. For example, he repeats the phrase "I ask my mother to sing" four times in the first stanza. This repetition emphasizes the importance of his mother's singing and creates a sense of urgency.

Interpretation

"I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a beautiful and poignant poem that reflects on the power of music and the importance of cultural heritage. Through his vivid imagery and use of metaphor, Li-Young Lee creates a vivid picture of his childhood memories of his mother's singing.

The poem is a tribute to Lee's mother and her ability to keep their Chinese heritage alive through her singing. It also highlights the importance of language and the role it plays in preserving cultural identity.

Ultimately, "I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a reminder of the beauty and richness of cultural diversity. It encourages us to appreciate and celebrate our cultural heritage and recognize the power of music to connect us to our roots.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a powerful and moving poem that deserves our attention. Li-Young Lee's use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition creates a memorable and emotional reading experience.

The poem highlights the importance of music, language, and cultural heritage, and encourages us to appreciate and celebrate our diversity. It is a timeless work that speaks to the universal human experience and reminds us of the power of art to connect us to our roots.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

I Ask My Mother To Sing: A Poem of Love, Loss, and Cultural Identity

Li-Young Lee's poem "I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a poignant and powerful exploration of the complex relationship between a mother and her son, as well as the ways in which cultural identity and heritage can shape our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. Through vivid imagery, rich language, and a deeply personal perspective, Lee invites us into his world and his family history, revealing the joys and sorrows of a life lived between two cultures.

At its core, "I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a love poem, a tribute to the bond between a mother and her child. The poem begins with the speaker asking his mother to sing, a simple request that carries with it a world of emotion and meaning. As the mother begins to sing, the son is transported back in time, to a world of childhood memories and family traditions. He remembers the sound of his mother's voice, the way it filled the room with warmth and comfort, and the way it connected him to his cultural heritage.

Throughout the poem, Lee uses vivid imagery to evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of his childhood home. He describes the "smell of garlic" and "the sound of the river" as his mother sings, creating a sensory experience that draws the reader into the world of the poem. The use of sensory details is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's emotional state, as he is overwhelmed by memories of his childhood and the love he feels for his mother.

One of the most striking aspects of "I Ask My Mother To Sing" is the way in which Lee explores the tension between his Chinese heritage and his American identity. The speaker is caught between two worlds, struggling to reconcile the traditions of his family with the demands of the modern world. He describes his mother's singing as a way of "keeping alive the culture" of their ancestors, a way of preserving a connection to the past in the face of a rapidly changing world.

At the same time, however, the speaker is acutely aware of the ways in which his cultural identity sets him apart from his peers. He describes the "shame" he feels at his mother's accent, and the way in which he tries to hide his cultural heritage from his American friends. This tension between cultural pride and cultural shame is a common experience for many immigrants and their children, and Lee captures it with sensitivity and nuance.

Despite the challenges of navigating two cultures, however, the speaker's love for his mother and his cultural heritage remains strong. He describes his mother's singing as a way of "bringing the past to life," a way of connecting him to his ancestors and his cultural roots. In this way, the poem becomes a celebration of the power of art and tradition to transcend boundaries and bring people together.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as the speaker reflects on the inevitability of loss and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with the people we love. He describes his mother's singing as a way of "holding on to what's beyond" and "letting go of what's gone," a bittersweet reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of treasuring the moments we have with our loved ones.

In conclusion, "I Ask My Mother To Sing" is a beautiful and moving poem that explores the complexities of love, loss, and cultural identity. Through vivid imagery, rich language, and a deeply personal perspective, Li-Young Lee invites us into his world and his family history, revealing the joys and sorrows of a life lived between two cultures. The poem is a testament to the power of art and tradition to connect us to our past and our cultural heritage, and a reminder of the importance of cherishing the moments we have with the people we love.

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