Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee is an Indonesian poet whose family originated from China. He was influenced by poets like Li Bo and Tu Fu. Readers enjoy his use of mysticism, themes of life and memory, as well as his use of silence in his work. His poems are sometimes lyrical in nature and other times narrative or personal.

Eating Together

‘Eating Together’ by Li-Young Lee is a beautiful contemporary poem about death. It uses a thoughtful simile and direct language.

Immigrant Blues

How does it feel when the body and the soul are not in conjunction? Read Li-Young Lee’s meditative piece ‘Immigrant Blues’ to understand what it really feels like.

Persimmons

‘Persimmons’ by Li-Young Lee is a beautiful poem that describes the poet’s interest in language. It explores how a persimmon comes to symbolize both his family connections and his feelings of alienation from his peers.

The Gift

‘The Gift’ by Li-Young Lee is an effective contemporary poem about the way a father’s voice and attitude influenced his son.