Analysis Of Little Father By Li-Young Lee

Although it may be debated, using symbols, word selection, and a form of structure, within Li-Young Lee’s poem “Little Father” assess’ the harsh realities of handling a family inconvenience.

The tone established by the speaker is relatively mellow during the first two stanzas. “I buried my father underground / Since then, my ladders / only climb down” After the death of a family member, it is natural for one to build mourning emotion. Initially the poem begins gentle as a way to depict heaven with “clean and comb him every morning” (Lee, 4). The speaker begins to become more distressed as he considers the physical aspect of the predicament, “my ladders / only climb down,” (line, 8-10).The tone is carried out towards of the poem’s closing,

especially when he is put in the position to honor his family members.
Although the tone itself allocates sentiments of grief, Lee also incorporates metaphors to further inquire the emotions of losing a close family member.

In the first stanza, the sky and birds are used as spiritual symbols. As the sky has birds and clouds, heaven has it’s angels and comfort to offer those of good spirit a place to reside. “Since then, the birds / clean and comb him every morning / and pull the blanket up to his chin / every night” (Lee, 3-6). By figuratively letting go of this person who means a lot to him, he is able to now assess the physical aspect of the loss. This continuation of symbolism is used in the second stanza to explain the physical aspect of losing his father. “I buried my father underground. / Since then, my ladders / only climb down, / and all earth has become a house” (Lee, 7-10). Even though burying someone underground may be initially considered as a simple act, Lee expands on the idea of a burial, stating that the Earth is an immense room, where the dead reside. These physical items differ from the previously spiritual symbols made. The final selection of metaphors which denote themes of growth are used within the last stanza. “Now he grows in me, my strange son, / my little root who won’t drink milk,” (Lee, 17-18). Milk, a substance of growth, is used for a little root which needs a stimulus to survive. This signifies that in order for man to grow (with milk), they must acknowledge nature, the root,

first.
The poem follows a parallel structure in many areas. For instance, instead of complaining of the loss he may have had, the speaker in two areas admits his judgment on the death. This is seen within other poems, however, is prominent in this issue due to it’s repetition of “I buried”.
The conversation is same between both stanzas one and two regarding the past, however with new ideas such as beyonce, one is obligated to uphold those rights, because they are woman.