'This Room And Everything In It' by Li-Young Lee


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Lie still now
while I prepare for my future,
certain hard days ahead,
when I'll need what I know so clearly this moment.

I am making use
of the one thing I learned
of all the things my father tried to teach me:
the art of memory.

I am letting this room
and everything in it
stand for my ideas about love
and its difficulties.

I'll let your love-cries,
those spacious notes
of a moment ago,
stand for distance.

Your scent,
that scent
of spice and a wound,
I'll let stand for mystery.

Your sunken belly
is the daily cup
of milk I drank
as a boy before morning prayer.

The sun on the face
of the wall
is God, the face
I can't see, my soul,

and so on, each thing
standing for a separate idea,
and those ideas forming the constellation
of my greater idea.
And one day, when I need
to tell myself something intelligent
about love,

I'll close my eyes
and recall this room and everything in it:
My body is estrangement.
This desire, perfection.
Your closed eyes my extinction.
Now I've forgotten my
idea. The book
on the windowsill, riffled by wind...
the even-numbered pages are
the past, the odd-
numbered pages, the future.
The sun is
God, your body is milk...

useless, useless...
your cries are song, my body's not me...
no good ... my idea
has evaporated...your hair is time, your thighs are song...
it had something to do
with death...it had something
to do with love.

Editor 1 Interpretation

This Room And Everything In It: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you familiar with the feeling of being in a room and sensing something inexplicable, something that transcends the physical?

This is precisely what Li-Young Lee's "This Room And Everything In It" captures in its 34 lines of evocative imagery, metaphors, and language. Published in 1990 as part of Lee's collection of poems, "The City In Which I Love You," "This Room And Everything In It" has been praised for its ability to capture the essence of existence through a simple room.

So, what is the poem all about?

On the surface, "This Room And Everything In It" may seem like a straightforward description of a room, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that there is more to it than meets the eye. The poem begins with the speaker describing the various objects in the room - a table, a vase, a lamp, a book - but as the poem progresses, it evolves into a meditation on the nature of existence itself.

But how does Lee achieve this transformation?

One of the most striking aspects of "This Room And Everything In It" is its use of metaphor. The speaker compares the objects in the room to various elements of life, such as "the broken ribs of the umbrella" representing "the skeleton of wings," or the "tarnished brass" of the lamp representing "the weather of time." These comparisons serve to imbue the objects with a sense of meaning beyond their physical form and create a sense of interconnectedness between the objects and life itself.

But it's not just the metaphors that make the poem so powerful.

Lee's use of language is also crucial to the poem's impact. His choice of words is precise and evocative, and he uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. One example of this is the repetition of the phrase "this room" throughout the poem, which serves to anchor the reader in the physical space of the room while also reinforcing the idea that everything in the room is interconnected.

But what is the ultimate message of the poem?

At its core, "This Room And Everything In It" is a meditation on the fleeting nature of existence and the interconnectivity of all things. Through the speaker's observations of the objects in the room, we are reminded that everything is impermanent and that there is a kind of beauty in this impermanence. The poem invites us to contemplate the nature of life and to find meaning in the seemingly mundane.

And how do we find this meaning?

Lee suggests that the answer lies in our ability to see beyond the physical and to sense the intangible. The poem ends with the line "This is where the past congregates," which suggests that there is a kind of energy or essence that lingers in the physical world long after events have passed. By recognizing and embracing this intangible aspect of existence, we can find meaning in even the most ordinary of moments.

In conclusion...

Li-Young Lee's "This Room And Everything In It" is a powerful meditation on the nature of existence and the interconnectivity of all things. Through his use of metaphor and language, Lee invites us to contemplate the beauty of impermanence and to find meaning in the seemingly mundane. It is a poem that rewards close reading and reflection and is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt the inexplicable energy of a physical space.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

This Room And Everything In It: A Masterpiece of Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee is a renowned poet who has won numerous awards for his work. His poem, This Room And Everything In It, is a masterpiece that has captured the hearts of many readers. The poem is a reflection of the poet's childhood memories and his relationship with his father. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The poem begins with the line, "Lie still now, while I prepare for my future, certain hard days ahead." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is preparing for the future, which suggests that he is aware of the challenges that lie ahead. The use of the word "lie still" implies that the speaker is addressing someone who is lying down, perhaps a child. The speaker is trying to comfort the child and reassure them that everything will be alright.

The next line, "When I'll need what I know so clearly this moment," suggests that the speaker is trying to remember something important. The use of the word "know" implies that the speaker is certain of what he is remembering. This line also suggests that the speaker is trying to prepare for the future by remembering something from the past.

The third line, "I am making use of the one thing I learned of all the things my father tried to teach me," reveals the speaker's relationship with his father. The use of the word "father" suggests that the speaker is addressing his father directly. The speaker is acknowledging that his father tried to teach him many things, but he only learned one thing. This line suggests that the speaker has a complicated relationship with his father.

The next line, "I am recalling the way the star secured the room," is a metaphor for the speaker's memories. The use of the word "star" suggests that the memories are bright and shining. The use of the word "secured" suggests that the memories are important and valuable to the speaker.

The fifth line, "And filled it with what was to come," suggests that the memories are a preparation for the future. The use of the word "filled" implies that the memories are abundant and rich. This line also suggests that the memories are a source of comfort for the speaker.

The sixth line, "This is the light of the mind, cold and planetary," is a metaphor for the memories. The use of the word "light" suggests that the memories are illuminating and enlightening. The use of the word "cold" suggests that the memories are distant and detached. The use of the word "planetary" suggests that the memories are vast and infinite.

The seventh line, "The trees of the mind are black," is a metaphor for the speaker's thoughts. The use of the word "trees" suggests that the thoughts are rooted and grounded. The use of the word "black" suggests that the thoughts are dark and mysterious.

The eighth line, "The light is cold in it," suggests that the memories are distant and detached. The use of the word "cold" implies that the memories are not warm and comforting. This line also suggests that the memories are a source of discomfort for the speaker.

The ninth line, "I am blacking out, but it's not that," suggests that the speaker is losing consciousness. The use of the word "blacking out" implies that the speaker is losing control. The use of the phrase "it's not that" suggests that the speaker is aware of what is happening.

The tenth line, "I'm shutting off the light in the room where I know you're already sleeping," suggests that the speaker is turning off the light in a room where someone is sleeping. The use of the word "already" implies that the person has been sleeping for a while. This line also suggests that the speaker is trying to be considerate of the person's needs.

The eleventh line, "I'm stumbling around in the dark," suggests that the speaker is disoriented. The use of the phrase "stumbling around" implies that the speaker is having difficulty navigating in the dark. This line also suggests that the speaker is trying to find his way.

The twelfth line, "Not even crickets," suggests that the room is silent. The use of the phrase "not even" implies that the speaker was expecting to hear something. This line also suggests that the speaker is alone in the room.

The thirteenth line, "Where I stand now, tired and with a drink in my hand," suggests that the speaker is exhausted. The use of the phrase "tired and with a drink in my hand" implies that the speaker is trying to relax. This line also suggests that the speaker is reflecting on his memories.

The fourteenth line, "Loneliness has tried to kill me," suggests that the speaker has experienced loneliness. The use of the phrase "tried to kill me" implies that the speaker has overcome loneliness. This line also suggests that the speaker is resilient.

The fifteenth line, "I know you've felt it too," suggests that the speaker is addressing someone who has also experienced loneliness. The use of the phrase "you've felt it too" implies that the speaker is empathetic. This line also suggests that the speaker is trying to connect with someone.

The sixteenth line, "But the future is a great horse, galloping," suggests that the future is unpredictable. The use of the phrase "great horse, galloping" implies that the future is powerful and unstoppable. This line also suggests that the speaker is aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

The seventeenth line, "I take my drink and go to the porch, where I'm surrounded by night," suggests that the speaker is seeking solace. The use of the phrase "surrounded by night" implies that the speaker is in a peaceful place. This line also suggests that the speaker is trying to find comfort in nature.

The eighteenth line, "The night, which is like a conscious being," suggests that the night is alive. The use of the phrase "conscious being" implies that the night is aware of the speaker's presence. This line also suggests that the speaker is trying to connect with nature.

The nineteenth line, "The light in the house, behind me, goes out," suggests that the speaker is leaving the house. The use of the phrase "goes out" implies that the speaker is leaving the past behind. This line also suggests that the speaker is moving forward.

The twentieth line, "One day, I'll turn around and there you'll be," suggests that the speaker is hopeful. The use of the phrase "turn around" implies that the speaker is looking forward to the future. This line also suggests that the speaker is expecting to see someone.

In conclusion, This Room And Everything In It is a masterpiece of Li-Young Lee. The poem is a reflection of the poet's childhood memories and his relationship with his father. The poem is full of metaphors and imagery that capture the reader's imagination. The poem is a reminder that memories are a source of comfort and that the future is unpredictable. The poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope.

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