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Li-Young, I do not know
| Open Poetry #40 |
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Li-Young, I do not know |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass 
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Li-Young, I do not know why I remembered you your book those hesitant paper blooms you seemed to draw in space, another world a touch past fingertips sketched second language paintings of a place I couldn’t know yet did, and I do not know why why I would drive, driven dare the place again, the exact shelf in a store I never visit bless myself with the last copy, retail of course, nor why I would search, fingers trembling for those words again, those words not to find, ask myself why I would expect the magic the I recall a far season of flowers when for love I crept to the edge of a roof to reach a petal-decked branch… magic For Li-Young Lee, whose poetry overwhelms me. |
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| © Copyright 2007 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Ratleader Soft as a summers breeze. |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
love the process of this thought... "sketched second language paintings of a place I couldn’t know yet did, and I do not know why" as before, as always, spectacular... |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Your writing draws me in..holds me.. your writing is...Magic! I thank you for this keeper.  In the midst of winter, |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
And I can see why... now I must start my own search. Oh, Thank you, Ed. |
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Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
This book is named "the city in which i love you" (yes, all lower case).....it's a collection of poems that are written mainly of her son and her father, and of course of herself and her life as a woman of Chinese parentage, transplanted from a personal admixture of Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau and Japan. ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> ______________Ratleader______________ |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Alright Ed, I just bought a used version of : Winged Seed (Hardcover) by Li-young Lee at Amazon because of you: “From Publishers Weekly In this lyrical memoir, Chinese-American poet Li-Young (Rose: The City in Which I Love You) recalls scenes of his childhood and youth in a kaleidoscope of dreams and nightmares with a factual recitation of events. He moves back and forth among prerevolutionary China, when his forbears were rich and privileged; the China of Mao Zedong, when his father was Mao's physician; Indonesia, where he and his family fled in the early 1950s after the father's release from the leper colony where he had been imprisoned for suspected disloyalty; and thence to Hong Kong and the U.S., where his father became a Presbyterian minister. Through the illogic and distortion of his dreams, Li-Young leads readers into the emotional landscape of his childhood, while objective events become clear in the narrative. In this evocative tale, politics plays a lesser role than family history and love in a world that was sad, frightening and hard for a child to understand. For the reader, however, Li-Young's portraits of the times are vividly illuminating. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.” In exchange I want you to e-mail me poems as examples as to why I should then read collections of his* poems. John * "his" or "her"? |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
If you bought the book, John, you will probably figure it out for yourself.  Whether male or female, the writing can be delicate and indescribable from either shore. I will welcome the chance to purchase one, or more, books, of this poet. Again, my thanks, Ed. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ed..I was thinking how wonderful it would be to have someone one day, go to a book store to buy a book you'd written...with just this same excitement. You are good, you know! |
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icequeen Senior Member
since 2001-12-09
Posts 633FL USA |
I wish Li-Young could see how wonderfully you've written your reaction to her poetry. You write so beautifully, I am sure she would be extremely honored.  Caroline He who wants a rose must respect the thorn. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I would search, fingers trembling for those words again, those words A reaction I often experience reading your work... *S* This, my friend, is so beautiful... the poet touched by another's poetry... and in turn, touches. *S* |
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
I recall a far season of flowers when for love I crept to the edge of a roof to reach a petal-decked branch… magic absolutely gorgeous....perfectly sweet malize which enforces a larger reality of the effects of poetry/words/tinges with caricature...and substantial knowledge of gentile pastorial rhyme...without the rhyme, yanno? I loved this and am so happy for the inspiration....you've apparently not only gained but now possess. Outstanding write |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Ed~ I know how precious a moment it is for you to hold her words in your hands ... what treasures reach us from afar to inspire~ *smiles* *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~ |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
thanks Ed for bringing this to light |
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he11oxNASTY Junior Member
since 2007-02-21
Posts 27 |
Thank you for introducing me to Li-Young Lee. Excellent poem. April-Lyn |
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