Don’t run away! It’s a short one. And I read it TO you. And it’s about fruit. If you don’t already love poetry, Li-Young Lee might just be your gateway poet. It’s his birthday, and I love him, and I’ve been thinking of this poem lately pretty much every day.
If you’re new to poetry, I’d suggest this: just like we wouldn’t glance once at a painting and never return (“oh, I’ve seen that painting already”), we need to re-visit poems several times before we even know what we think. A good guide is to read a new poem aloud to yourself three different times, on three different days, before you begin to think you know it. Helps us HEAR it, which is of huge importance in poetry. And also gives us time to digest.
That said, I’m fairly sure THIS poem will have your heart (and your tongue?) in one go. The text is below for easy access. Thanks for listening:
Li-Young Lee, “From Blossoms” from Rose. Copyright © 1986 by Li-Young Lee. Reprinted from the Poetry Foundation.org, who reprinted it with the permission of BOA Editions Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.
This poem is a GEM 🙌
I love Li-Young Li. Thank you for helping me to remember. We have to always remember, blossom to blossom. I haven't read this poem. So this was a treat. It did capture my heart. I will read it again and again.