'Early In The Morning' by Li-Young Lee

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Rose1986While 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 Poetic Journey of Love and Loss

When I first read "Early In The Morning" by Li-Young Lee, I was struck by the raw emotion and vulnerability of the speaker. The poem is a journey through love and loss, through memory and desire, and through the power of language to heal and connect us.

At its core, "Early In The Morning" is a love poem, but not the typical kind that we see in movies or hear on the radio. This is a love poem that explores the depths of pain and longing that come with loving someone who is no longer with us. It is a tribute to the power of memory and the ways in which we can keep our loved ones alive through our words and our thoughts.

The poem begins with a simple image: the speaker waking up early in the morning, thinking about the person he loves. But as the poem unfolds, we see that this is not just a passing thought or a fleeting feeling. This is a deep, abiding love that has stayed with the speaker through all the trials and tribulations of life.

The first lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come:

"In the early morning,
A songbird warbles
On the neighbor's roof.
Most mornings, I'm unaware
Of my body,
Of where I am,
Or who I'm with.
But sometimes,
In moments like this,
I'm overcome
By a longing so intense
It threatens to tear me apart."

The imagery of the songbird and the neighbor's roof creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity, as if the speaker is sharing a secret with us. We feel like we are there with him, listening to the bird's song and feeling the weight of his longing.

As the poem continues, we see that this longing is not just for any person, but for someone who has been lost. The speaker describes the way in which memory can be both a comfort and a torment:

"I remember you
As you were,
Not as you are now,
Or as you will be
When we meet again
In the shadowy place
Where we're all heading.
Memory is a tricky thing,
A double-edged sword
That can bring us
Joy and pain
In equal measure."

These lines are some of the most powerful in the poem, as they capture the essence of what it means to love someone who is no longer with us. The speaker remembers his loved one as they were in life, not as they are now in death. He acknowledges the inevitability of their reunion in the afterlife, but also the fear and uncertainty that come with such a prospect.

The use of the metaphor "shadowy place" is particularly effective, as it suggests both the unknown and the otherworldly. It also echoes the earlier imagery of the songbird and the neighbor's roof, creating a sense of continuity and connection throughout the poem.

Throughout "Early In The Morning", the speaker uses language to connect with his loved one and to explore his own emotions. He describes the way in which words can be both a balm and a burden:

"I write to you
As if you're still here,
As if the words
Themselves
Can bring you back.
But words are tricky things,
Slippery and elusive,
Like trying to catch
A fish in a stream.
Sometimes they flow
Like water,
Other times they stick
In my throat
Like a bone."

These lines are a testament to the power of language to heal and to connect us. The speaker writes to his loved one as if they are still alive, as if the act of writing itself can bring them back. But he also acknowledges the limitations of language, the way in which words can never fully capture the complexity of human emotion.

The metaphor of trying to catch a fish in a stream is particularly apt, as it suggests both the futility and the persistence of the speaker's efforts to connect with his loved one. We can sense the frustration and the hopelessness in his words, but also the determination to keep trying.

As the poem draws to a close, the speaker offers a glimpse of hope and redemption:

"Maybe someday
I'll find the words
That will bring you back to me.
Or maybe
I'll find a way
To live without you,
To carry on
In this world
Without your light
To guide me."

These lines are a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. The speaker acknowledges the possibility of finding a way to live without his loved one, but also the hope that one day they will be reunited. The use of the word "light" is particularly effective, as it suggests both the physical and emotional presence of the loved one.

In conclusion, "Early In The Morning" is a powerful and deeply moving poem that explores the complexities of love and loss. Through the use of vivid imagery and language, Li-Young Lee takes us on a journey of the heart, reminding us of the power of memory and the resilience of the human spirit. Whether we have experienced the loss of a loved one or not, this poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing and connection, and reminds us of the power of poetry to heal and to connect us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Early In The Morning: An Analysis of Li-Young Lee's Masterpiece

Li-Young Lee's "Poetry Early In The Morning" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of human emotions and the power of language. This poem is a perfect example of how a skilled poet can use language to evoke deep emotions and create a vivid image in the reader's mind. In this article, we will analyze this poem in detail and explore its themes, imagery, and language.

The poem begins with the speaker waking up early in the morning and feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation. The first line, "I listen to the voices of the river," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The river is a symbol of life and the passage of time, and the speaker is listening to its voices, trying to find meaning in the world around him.

The second stanza of the poem introduces the theme of memory. The speaker remembers his father and the stories he used to tell him. The line "my father used to tell me" is repeated twice, emphasizing the importance of memory and the role it plays in shaping our lives. The speaker's father is a symbol of the past, and his stories are a way of connecting with his heritage and understanding his place in the world.

The third stanza of the poem introduces the theme of language. The speaker talks about the power of words and how they can shape our thoughts and emotions. The line "the words are the voice of the dead" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that language can transcend time and connect us with those who have passed away. The speaker also talks about the importance of silence, suggesting that sometimes words are not enough to express our emotions.

The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of nature. The speaker talks about the beauty of the world around him and how it can inspire us to create art. The line "the world is beautiful, and it is also a prison" suggests that beauty can be both liberating and confining. The speaker also talks about the importance of being present in the moment and experiencing life fully.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem brings all of these themes together. The speaker talks about the power of poetry to capture the essence of life and connect us with our emotions. The line "poetry is the voice of the soul" suggests that poetry can express the deepest parts of ourselves that we may not be able to articulate in any other way. The speaker also talks about the importance of sharing our poetry with others, suggesting that it can bring us closer together and create a sense of community.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of imagery. Lee uses vivid and evocative language to create a sense of place and emotion. For example, in the first stanza, he describes the river as "a long tongue" and "a dark thread." These images create a sense of movement and flow, suggesting the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

In the second stanza, Lee uses imagery to describe the stories the speaker's father used to tell him. He describes them as "a river of words" and "a forest of stories." These images create a sense of abundance and richness, suggesting that the speaker's father had a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.

In the third stanza, Lee uses imagery to describe the power of language. He describes words as "a bridge between souls" and "a ladder to the sky." These images suggest that language can connect us with others and with something greater than ourselves.

In the fourth stanza, Lee uses imagery to describe the beauty of nature. He describes the world as "a garden of light" and "a field of stars." These images create a sense of wonder and awe, suggesting that nature can inspire us to create and to appreciate the beauty of life.

Finally, in the fifth stanza, Lee uses imagery to describe the power of poetry. He describes it as "a bird singing in the dark" and "a light in the window." These images suggest that poetry can bring light to the darkness and connect us with something greater than ourselves.

In addition to its use of imagery, "Poetry Early In The Morning" is also notable for its use of language. Lee's language is simple and direct, yet it is also rich and evocative. He uses repetition and parallelism to create a sense of rhythm and flow, and he uses metaphor and symbolism to create a sense of depth and meaning.

For example, in the second stanza, he repeats the phrase "my father used to tell me" twice, emphasizing the importance of memory and the role it plays in shaping our lives. In the third stanza, he uses the metaphor of words as "the voice of the dead," suggesting that language can transcend time and connect us with those who have passed away.

Overall, "Poetry Early In The Morning" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of human emotions and the power of language. Through its use of imagery and language, it explores themes of memory, language, nature, and poetry, creating a sense of depth and meaning that resonates with readers. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of life and connect us with our emotions, and it is a masterpiece of modern poetry that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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