'Braiding' by Li-Young Lee

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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
works the brush. Both hands climb
as the strokes grow
longer, until I use not only my wrists,
but my arms, then my shoulders, my whole body
rocking in a rower's rhythm, a lover's
even time, as the tangles are undone,
and brush and bare hand run the thick,
fluent length of your hair, whose wintry scent
comes, a faint, human musk.2.
Last night the room was so cold
I dreamed we were in Pittsburgh again, where winter
persisted and we fell asleep in the last seat
of the 71 Negley, dark mornings going to work.
How I wish we didn't hate those years
while we lived them.
Those were days of books,
days of silences stacked high
as the ceiling of that great, dim hall
where we studied. I remember
the thick, oak tabletops, how cool
they felt against my face
when I lay my head down and slept.3.
How long your hair has grown.Gradually, December.4.
There will come a day
one of us will have to imagine this: you,
after your bath, crosslegged on the bed, sleepy, patient,
while I braid your hair.5.
Here, what's made, these braids, unmakes
itself in time, and must be made
again, within and against
time. So I braid
your hair each day.
My fingers gather, measure hair,
hook, pull and twist hair and hair.
Deft, quick, they plait,
weave, articulate lock and lock, to make
and make these braids, which point
the direction of my going, of all our continuous going.
And though what's made does not abide,
my making is steadfast, and, besides, there is a making
of which this making-in-time is just a part,
a making which abides
beyond the hands which rise in the combing,
the hands which fall in the braiding,
trailing hair in each stage of its unbraiding.6.
Love, how the hours accumulate. Uncountable.
The trees grow tall, some people walk away
and diminish forever.
The damp pewter days slip around without warning
and we cross over one year and one year.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Braiding: A Poem Explored

Poetry is a way of expressing oneself through meaningful words that create a poem. Poems are an art that reflects human emotions, feelings, and experiences. Li-Young Lee's Braiding is one such poem that captures the essence of memories, the passing of time, and the inevitability of change. This literary criticism and interpretation aim to explore the themes, imagery, and language used in Braiding.

Li-Young Lee's Braiding is a poem that explores the complex relationship between a father and a son. The speaker in the poem is reminiscing about his childhood and the time he spent with his father. The poem is written in free verse, and the language used is simple yet profound. The poem opens with the speaker describing how his father used to braid his sister's hair. The image of the father braiding his daughter's hair is significant as it sets the tone for the poem. It signifies the father's love and the bond he shares with his children.

The poem then moves to the speaker's childhood memories. The speaker recalls how his father used to take him to the river to fish. The imagery of the river is significant as it symbolizes the passage of time. The river flows continuously, and time passes by, just like the memories of the speaker's childhood. The speaker then describes how his father used to teach him how to braid the fishing line. The act of teaching is significant as it reflects the father's desire to pass on his knowledge and skills to his son.

As the poem progresses, the speaker describes how his father's hands have changed over the years. The once-strong and calloused hands have become soft and wrinkled with age. The imagery of the father's hands changing over time is symbolic of the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker then describes how his father's hair has turned white, and how his once-strong body has become weak. The image of the father's aging body is significant as it reflects the father's mortality.

Towards the end of the poem, the speaker describes how he has become a father himself. He describes how he has tried to teach his children the same skills that his father taught him. The act of passing on knowledge and skills from one generation to another is significant as it reflects the continuity of life. The poem ends with the speaker describing how he still remembers the lessons his father taught him, and how he still feels the warmth of his father's embrace.

The poem Braiding is a work of art that explores the themes of memories, the passing of time, and the inevitability of change. The poem is rich in imagery and language. The use of the river as a symbol for the passage of time is particularly effective. The imagery of the father's hands changing over time, and his aging body is also significant. Li-Young Lee has used simple yet profound language to convey deep emotions and feelings. The poem's structure is also significant as it is written in free verse, which reflects the natural flow of memories.

In conclusion, Braiding is a beautiful poem that explores the complex relationship between a father and a son. The poem is rich in imagery and language, and it effectively conveys deep emotions and feelings. The themes of memories, the passing of time, and the inevitability of change are explored in a profound and meaningful way. The poem's structure is also significant as it reflects the natural flow of memories. Braiding is a work of art that deserves to be appreciated and studied for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Braiding: A Masterpiece by Li-Young Lee

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to move people, to make them feel and think deeply. It is a medium that allows us to express our emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a way that is both beautiful and meaningful. One such masterpiece of poetry is the "Poetry Braiding" by Li-Young Lee. This poem is a perfect example of how poetry can be used to express complex emotions and ideas in a simple yet powerful way.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene where his mother is braiding his sister's hair. The speaker is fascinated by the way his mother's fingers move as she braids the hair. He describes the scene in vivid detail, using words like "glistening," "shimmering," and "luminous" to create a picture of the hair and the braids. The imagery in this opening stanza is so vivid that the reader can almost feel the hair in their own hands.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the act of braiding itself. He sees it as a form of poetry, a way of weaving together different strands to create something beautiful. He says, "And my mother's voice / humming in the background / like a quiet melody / weaving in and out / of the braids." Here, the speaker is comparing his mother's humming to a melody, suggesting that the act of braiding is like composing a piece of music.

The poem then takes a more philosophical turn as the speaker reflects on the nature of poetry itself. He says, "Poetry is what you find / in the dirt in the corner, / overhear on the bus, God / in the details, the only way / to get from here to there." Here, the speaker is suggesting that poetry is not just something that is found in books or in grandiose language. Rather, it is something that can be found in the everyday, in the small details of life. He also suggests that poetry is a way of moving from one place to another, of transcending the mundane and reaching for something greater.

The poem then returns to the scene of the hair braiding, with the speaker reflecting on the relationship between his mother and sister. He says, "My sister stands before my mother's mirror / braiding and unbraiding her hair / as my mother sings in a voice / both rough and sweet." Here, the speaker is suggesting that the act of braiding is not just about creating something beautiful, but also about the relationship between the two people involved. The mother's singing is both "rough and sweet," suggesting that their relationship is complex and multifaceted.

The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the power of poetry to connect people. He says, "And I love the word undulating, / how it opens and closes / like a woman's fan / reminding me of my mother / and the way she held the comb." Here, the speaker is suggesting that poetry has the power to connect people across time and space. The word "undulating" reminds him of his mother and the act of hair braiding, connecting him to his past and his family.

Overall, "Poetry Braiding" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the nature of poetry and the relationship between family members. Li-Young Lee's use of vivid imagery and simple language creates a picture that is both beautiful and meaningful. The poem reminds us that poetry is not just about grandiose language or complex ideas, but also about the small details of life and the relationships that we have with others. It is a masterpiece that will continue to move and inspire readers for generations to come.

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