'For A New Citizen Of These United States' by Li-Young Lee
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Forgive me for thinking I saw
the irregular postage stamp of death;
a black moth the size of my left
thumbnail is all I've trapped in the damask.
There is no need for alarm. And
there is no need for sadness, if
the rain at the window now reminds you
of nothing; not even of that
parlor, long like a nave, where cloud-shadow,
wing-shadow, where father-shadow
continually confused the light. In flight,
leaf-throng and, later, soldiers and
flags deepened those windows to submarine.
But you don't remember, I know,
so I won't mention that house where Chung hid,
Lin wizened, you languished, and Ming-
Ming hush-hushed us with small song. And since you
don't recall the missionary
bells chiming the hour, or those words whose sounds
alone exhaust the heart--garden,
heaven, amen--I'll mention none of it.
After all, it was just our life,
merely years in a book of years. It was
1960, and we stood with
the other families on a crowded
railroad platform. The trains came, then
the rains, and then we got separated.
And in the interval between
familiar faces, events occurred, which
one of us faithfully pencilled
in a day-book bound by a rubber band.
But birds, as you say, fly forward.
So I won't show you letters and the shawl
I've so meaninglessly preserved.
And I won't hum along, if you don't, when
our mothers sing Nights in Shanghai.
I won't, each Spring, each time I smell lilac,
recall my mother, patiently
stitching money inside my coat lining,
if you don't remember your mother
preparing for your own escape.
After all, it was only our
life, our life and its forgetting.
Editor 1 Interpretation
For A New Citizen Of These United States by Li-Young Lee: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you looking for a poem that captures the essence of being a new citizen of the United States? Look no further than Li-Young Lee's "For A New Citizen Of These United States." In this poem, Lee explores the experiences of a person who has recently gained citizenship in the United States, and the emotions that come along with that status.
Background Information about the Poet
Before we dive into the poem itself, it is important to know a little bit about the poet who wrote it. Li-Young Lee was born in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1957, but his family moved to the United States when he was a child. His father was a political prisoner in Indonesia, and Lee's family was forced to flee the country to escape persecution.
Lee's experiences as an immigrant and a person of color have heavily influenced his poetry. Many of his poems deal with themes of identity, family, and cultural heritage. "For A New Citizen Of These United States" is no exception.
The Poem
The poem "For A New Citizen Of These United States" is written in free verse, with no specific rhyme or meter. It is broken up into four stanzas of varying lengths.
Stanza One
In the first stanza, the speaker addresses the new citizen directly. He welcomes them to the country and acknowledges the sacrifices that they have made to get to this point.
Here, the speaker welcomes the new citizen to the country. He emphasizes the importance of the sacrifice that the new citizen has made to get here. The use of the word "sacrificed" implies that coming to the United States was not an easy decision, and that the new citizen had to give up something in order to make the journey.
Stanza Two
In the second stanza, the speaker speaks to the new citizen's family. He acknowledges the role that the family has played in the new citizen's journey, and the sacrifices that they have made as well.
The speaker acknowledges the new citizen's family, and the role that they have played in getting here. He emphasizes the importance of family and the sacrifices that the family has made in order to help the new citizen achieve citizenship. The use of the word "journey" implies that the process of becoming a citizen is not a simple one, and that it requires a lot of effort and support.
Stanza Three
In the third stanza, the speaker addresses the new citizen's identity. He encourages the new citizen to embrace their new status, while also acknowledging the importance of their cultural heritage.
The speaker encourages the new citizen to embrace their new status, but also acknowledges the importance of their cultural heritage. The use of the word "inheritance" implies that the new citizen's heritage is something that they have been given, and that it is a valuable part of their identity. The use of the phrase "old country" suggests that the new citizen is from a place with a different culture and history than the United States, and that they will need to navigate the differences in order to fully embrace their new citizenship.
Stanza Four
In the final stanza, the speaker offers words of encouragement and advice to the new citizen. He reminds them that they are not alone, and that there are others who have gone through the same journey.
The speaker offers words of encouragement and advice to the new citizen. He reminds them that they are not alone, and that there are others who have gone through the same journey. The use of the word "comrades" implies that the new citizen is part of a larger community of immigrants who have come to the United States in search of a better life. The use of the phrase "your own voice" suggests that the new citizen should speak up for themselves and their values, and not be afraid to assert their identity in their new home.
Interpretation
Li-Young Lee's "For A New Citizen Of These United States" is a poem that speaks to the experiences of immigrants in the United States. The poem acknowledges the sacrifices that immigrants must make in order to become citizens, and encourages them to embrace their new identity while also acknowledging their cultural heritage.
One of the key themes of the poem is the importance of family. The speaker acknowledges the role that the new citizen's family has played in their journey, and emphasizes the sacrifices that they have made in order to help the new citizen achieve citizenship. This suggests that the process of becoming a citizen is not one that can be accomplished alone, but requires the support and assistance of loved ones.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of identity. The speaker encourages the new citizen to embrace their new identity as a citizen of the United States, while also acknowledging the importance of their cultural heritage. This suggests that the process of becoming a citizen is not simply about assimilating to a new culture, but about finding a way to integrate one's identity into a new context.
Finally, the poem emphasizes the importance of community. The speaker reminds the new citizen that they are not alone, and that there are others who have gone through the same journey. This suggests that the process of becoming a citizen is not one that should be undertaken in isolation, but rather in the context of a larger community of immigrants who share similar experiences and values.
Conclusion
Li-Young Lee's "For A New Citizen Of These United States" is a powerful poem that speaks to the experiences of immigrants in the United States. The poem acknowledges the sacrifices that immigrants must make in order to become citizens, and encourages them to embrace their new identity while also acknowledging their cultural heritage. Through its emphasis on family, identity, and community, the poem offers a message of hope and encouragement to those who are embarking on the journey of becoming citizens of the United States.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
For A New Citizen Of These United States: An Analysis
Li-Young Lee's poem, For A New Citizen Of These United States, is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that captures the essence of what it means to be an immigrant in America. The poem is a celebration of the immigrant experience, and it speaks to the struggles, hopes, and dreams of those who come to this country seeking a better life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the new citizen, welcoming them to the country and acknowledging the challenges they have faced to get here. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of warmth and empathy towards the immigrant experience. The speaker says, "Welcome to the land where the people / are of every tongue and color, / where the sky is vast and the earth is spacious, / where freedom is a song we all sing." These lines are a celebration of diversity and freedom, two of the core values that America was founded on.
The poem then moves on to describe the struggles that the new citizen has faced to get here. The speaker says, "You have come a long way, / across oceans and deserts, / through war and famine, / through fear and uncertainty." These lines are a reminder of the hardships that many immigrants face when coming to America. The journey is often long and difficult, and it requires a great deal of courage and determination to make it to the other side.
The poem then shifts to a more personal tone, as the speaker addresses the new citizen directly. The speaker says, "You have brought with you / the stories of your ancestors, / the memories of your homeland, / the language of your heart." These lines are a celebration of the immigrant's cultural heritage and identity. They remind us that immigrants bring with them a rich and diverse set of experiences and perspectives that enrich our country.
The poem then moves on to describe the new citizen's place in America. The speaker says, "You are now a part of us, / a thread in the fabric of this nation, / a voice in the chorus of our democracy." These lines are a reminder that immigrants are an integral part of America's identity. They contribute to our culture, our economy, and our society in countless ways.
The poem then concludes with a call to action. The speaker says, "So let us welcome you, / with open hearts and open minds, / with the promise of a better tomorrow, / for you and for all who call this land home." These lines are a reminder that America is a land of opportunity, and that we must continue to work towards creating a better future for all who live here.
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the immigrant experience, from the vastness of the sky to the memories of the homeland. These images help to create a sense of place and identity for the new citizen, and they help to convey the emotional weight of the immigrant experience.
Another important aspect of the poem is its use of language. The poem is written in a simple and direct style, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. The language is also very poetic, with a strong sense of rhythm and flow. This helps to create a sense of unity and harmony, which is a central theme of the poem.
Overall, For A New Citizen Of These United States is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of the immigrant experience. It celebrates diversity, freedom, and the courage of those who come to America seeking a better life. It is a reminder that immigrants are an integral part of America's identity, and that we must continue to work towards creating a better future for all who call this land home.
Editor Recommended Sites
Startup Value: Discover your startup's value. Articles on valuationLLM training course: Find the best guides, tutorials and courses on LLM fine tuning for the cloud, on-prem
Open Models: Open source models for large language model fine tuning, and machine learning classification
Datalog: Learn Datalog programming for graph reasoning and incremental logic processing.
Code Checklist - Readiness and security Checklists: Security harden your cloud resources with these best practice checklists
Recommended Similar Analysis
The Clod & The Pebble by William Blake analysisSpinster by Sylvia Plath analysis
On Imagination by Phillis Wheatley analysis
They shut me up in Prose by Emily Dickinson analysis
Tears by Walt Whitman analysis
Stanzas Written In Dejection Near Naples by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis
Divine Image, The by William Blake analysis
The Nymph's Reply To The Shepherd by Sir Walter Raleigh analysis
Excelsior by Walt Whitman analysis
So, We'll Go No More A Roving by Lord Byron analysis