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147th out of 158 books
—
57 voters
Rose
In this outstanding first book of poems, Lee is unafraid to show emotion, especially when writing about his father or his wife. "But there is wisdom/ in the hour in which a boy/ sits in his room listening," says the first poem, and Lee's silent willingness to step outside himself imbues Rose with a rare sensitivity. The images Lee findssuch as the rose and the appleare rep...more
Paperback, 71 pages
Published
March 1st 1993
by BOA Editions Ltd.
(first published September 1st 1986)
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After re-reading this book recently, I've decided to bump my rating from a 3.75 to a solid 4.0. I like Lee's plain use of language. I even like the sentimentality. Sometimes tacky works. Also cool is the subtle infusion of Asian culture without relying on it for substance. Lately strained "cultural" literature, knee-deep with political agendas and awash with "serious" social taboos, unrest and the muck has given me gas. Sometimes simple whole-grain words (albeit cheesy) for whole-grain themes ar...more
At turns heartbreaking and at other moments humorous, Lee always presents his poems with lyrical and haunting detail, impressing upon readers the importance of a single given moment. I'd read many of these poems in the past (a few have been included in more than one anthology), but this was my first time reading the collection as a single long work. And, in the end, this is one of those collections that calls to be read as a whole. With cycles of references to flowers, to the power of memory, an...more
I think I have loved Li-Young Lee ever since I chanced upon this book one day at the library. That afternoon, I felt my world give, and in that little space between the shelves another part of me is changed forever because of this, because of his poems.
It is now five years later, and I am so glad to be able to have a copy of this finally. To be able to hold it in my hands—yes—what joy.
I liked Gerald Stern's foreword: "What characterizes Lee's poetry is a certain humility, a kind of cunning, a l...more
It is now five years later, and I am so glad to be able to have a copy of this finally. To be able to hold it in my hands—yes—what joy.
I liked Gerald Stern's foreword: "What characterizes Lee's poetry is a certain humility, a kind of cunning, a l...more
I don't know why I love this poem so much - but I do - over and over again.
From Blossoms
From blossoms comes
this brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned toward
signs painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the ski...more
From Blossoms
From blossoms comes
this brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned toward
signs painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the ski...more
Jan 23, 2008
Stacia
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
undergraduate English students who want to say they're into a seminal Chinese-American poet.
Recommended to Stacia by:
Meg
I mean, I liked it all right. Not to be lame, but you can't write a free verse poem comparing your parents' old age, faded magnolias, and rainy days without coming off as a little trite. There were some good ones in there, though.
The poems in this book manage to be at once firmly, richly material––filled with solid, sensual things––and ethereal, metaphysical.
I haven't read a collection from Li-Young Lee in years, and this was a refreshing return. A brief collection centered upon the tenderness, pain, and reality of love and family, it is a worthwhile endeavor to spend some time with his poems. Here is an example I liked:
Braiding
1.
We two sit on our bed, you
between my legs, your back to me, your head
slightly bowed, that I may brush and braid
your hair. My father
did this for my mother,
just as I do for you. One hand
holds the hem of you hair, the other
wor...more
Braiding
1.
We two sit on our bed, you
between my legs, your back to me, your head
slightly bowed, that I may brush and braid
your hair. My father
did this for my mother,
just as I do for you. One hand
holds the hem of you hair, the other
wor...more
Li-Young Lee, Rose (Boa Editions, 1986)
I am a longtime fan of Li-Young Lee's work, but I somehow never got round to reading Rose, his first book, until now. Sometimes going back and reading the first published work of an author is interesting in that you can see how s/he developed over the years (this is reviewer-code for “man, this book is not nearly as good as I was expecting”); such is not at all the case with Lee, whose first pieces are just as polished, professional, and deeply absorbing as...more
I am a longtime fan of Li-Young Lee's work, but I somehow never got round to reading Rose, his first book, until now. Sometimes going back and reading the first published work of an author is interesting in that you can see how s/he developed over the years (this is reviewer-code for “man, this book is not nearly as good as I was expecting”); such is not at all the case with Lee, whose first pieces are just as polished, professional, and deeply absorbing as...more
i have read and reread the poems in this book so many times.
i first encountered lee at the geraldine dodge poetry festical back in 94. i randomly decided to attend his seminar and his readings really made an impression on me.
here are a few things i remember about what he said about his process of writing. (i am heavily paraphrasing due to my terrible memory.)
"Language often fails to represent what you're trying to say. Instead, it outlines the boundary of the void, the thought, which you're tr...more
i first encountered lee at the geraldine dodge poetry festical back in 94. i randomly decided to attend his seminar and his readings really made an impression on me.
here are a few things i remember about what he said about his process of writing. (i am heavily paraphrasing due to my terrible memory.)
"Language often fails to represent what you're trying to say. Instead, it outlines the boundary of the void, the thought, which you're tr...more
This is from my earlier days in poetry. Since first reading Li-Young Lee, I've plagiarized at least a dozen of his ideas or phrasings (often blatantly) in my own work. I've never been able to pull it off the way he does.
Rereading it now that I'm older and free of certain soft inflections of sentimentality, I can see the humility of Lee's writing. It's humorless, sobering. His fascination with words as they play on and relate to one another is evident. He loves his commas.
I've learned a lot from...more
Rereading it now that I'm older and free of certain soft inflections of sentimentality, I can see the humility of Lee's writing. It's humorless, sobering. His fascination with words as they play on and relate to one another is evident. He loves his commas.
I've learned a lot from...more
This tiny book is a gem of amazing poetry - several of them amongst my favorites. I find myself quoting lines as I move through my days. I highly recommend Lee to anyone who appreciates the word-crafting inherent in poetry (and even to a few who don't).
I love this book. Loved it the first time I read it and every time through it since. It's also a wonderful book to teach. Favorite poems: Eating Alone, Eating Together, From Blossoms, The Gift, Persimmons, Braiding.
His poems roll off my tongue, but some don't hold together. Yet, the poems are plain and sensual. I just felt like I wanted more, even when I re-read his poems. I'm looking forward to his next book of poetry.
Li-Young Lee is simple and elegant. He tells us the scene matter-of-factly and yet his words melt like soft butter. He's a fantastic poet and shares his feelings and experiences with a deft hand.
I'm not sure anyone does it better. Poetry as it ought to be. Heartbreaking, beautiful, lyric, narrative, accessible, emotive, evocative, experiential--excellent poetry. That's all.
"Slender memory, stay with me." I sat at a small dinner gathering with a group of colleagues and Li Young Lee. He was thoughtful, humble, conversational--all that you would hope for in a poet. "We look in 10,000 directions and all we see is ourselves." Lee's writing is so pure, so rich in imagery. A powerful opening force into the reader's self.
From Visions and Interpretations:
"The old book I finished reading
I've since read again and again.
And what was far grows near,
and what was near grows more...more
From Visions and Interpretations:
"The old book I finished reading
I've since read again and again.
And what was far grows near,
and what was near grows more...more
Feb 16, 2010
KT Howard
added it
I thought this was really nice poetry. Very simple yet flowery at the same time. Relied on imagery to tell the deeper meaning of things. Read for my Creative Writing class.
Some of these poems are 5-Star poems; others did not do much for me.
Overall, Lee is a phenomenal talent. His quiet poems evoke such tender moments.
Overall, Lee is a phenomenal talent. His quiet poems evoke such tender moments.
Though a somewhat disjointed collection, Lee's thorough exploration of emotion and context is a cornerstone of 20th century American poetry.
This is Lee's first work. I love The Gift, Persimmons, Water, The Life, and Braiding. Basically, this is a beautiful work.
a great book of poetry! Lee is very careful with language. it's very beautiful to read, and calming.
You're a much tougher critic than me, my cousin! I loved some of the poems in this book.
A few gem poems, sadly cloaked in incredibly mediocre endings.
An excellent collection by a contemporary poet.
Beautiful. Intimate. Precise. Soulful.
I really enjoyed this book.
great
One of my favorite poems from this collection is Nocturne.
". . . Tonight, something bows
that should not bend. Something stiffens that should
slide. Something, loose and not right,
rakes or forges itself all night."
". . . Tonight, something bows
that should not bend. Something stiffens that should
slide. Something, loose and not right,
rakes or forges itself all night."
I am not a huge poetry fan, but this is my favorite poet. I love his spare poems and I love that his poems are not limited to romance or relationship problems. At the same time, these are some of the most sensual poems I know. There is one about his mother unwinding her hair at night for his father that I love.
All of the poems were really beautiful or sublime, some almost made me cry, but I can't help thinking that it was a bit sentimental. There was almost a rhythm to the repeated imagery that felt dreamlike. It was a good read, but I prefer poetry that is more about ideas and less about the personal.
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Li-Young Lee is an American poet. He was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Chinese parents. His great-grandfather was Yuan Shikai, China's first Republican President, who attempted to make himself emperor. Lee's father, who was a personal physician to Mao Zedong while in China, relocated his family to Indonesia, where he helped found Gamaliel University. His father was exiled and spent a year in an I...more
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![Behind My Eyes [With CD]](http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348346957m/906943.jpg "Behind My Eyes [With CD]")
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02 juil. 11:22