Eating Alone

Fiction | Poem | Adult

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Further Reading & Resources

Related Poems

“Eating Together” by Li-Young Lee (1986)

A companion poem to “Eating Alone,” “Eating Together” was also published in Lee’s first collection Rose. The poems are used as a frame to develop the narrative of the collection as a whole. This poem juxtaposes the differences between the speaker’s mealtime experiences. Though both poems were written after his father’s death, each one reveals a different aspect of the speaker’s relationship to his father and to his family. When read alongside, the poems inform each other and further explore Lee’s recurrent theme of life vs. death and fascination with food preparation.

“Just Before a Thunder Shower” by James Wright (1961)

Writing earlier in the century, James Wright’s poems also explore themes of loneliness and alienation. Both Lee and Wright compose poems strong in image and simple in rhetoric. For example, the images of the poem are quite clear: barrels of hay, a pair of wind-blown shoes, and a farmer calling his cows into the barn. These separate images come together to set the tone of the poem which suggests the lonely life the farmer lives. Like Lee, Wright uses the simplicity of images to convey a larger subject that reveals an unknown truth.

“The Solitude of Night” by Li Bai (756 BC)

As a child, Lee’s parents would often recite to him ancient Chinese poetry. Li Bai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, remains a major influence of Lee’s work. Bai is known for writing poetry in a conversational tone and employing clear images. Like Lee, Bai uses the image to describe the emotional experience of the speaker. In “The Solitude of the Night,” the speaker expresses a deep feeling of loneliness after they wake from a drunken slumber at a party. After the speaker leaves, they find themselves alone with the river and the moonlight, when even the birds had returned to their nests. The influence of Bai on Lee is apparent.

“Burial Rites” by Philip Levine (2007)

In this poem, Philip Levine also explores the death of a parent and its emotional aftermath. Similar to Lee, Levine accesses memories by exhibiting an attention to detail in the present moment. The poem uses images of the surrounding landscape to create an atmosphere of contemplation for the speaker to inhabit. This attention allows the speaker to mourn the loss of his mother while also embracing his aliveness. Both Lee and Levine utilize simple diction and adopt rhythmic narrative styles.

Further Literary Resources

“Li-Young Lee: A Postmodern Poet Travels Back to Transcendentalism“ by Paul R. Duncan (2013)

Paul R. Duncan argues that Li-Young Lee’s poetry can be characterized as Postmodern Transcendentalist literature. He breaks down the fundamentals of the Transcendental literary movement and aligns Lee’s work within its parameters. Duncan then compares Lee’s poems to the work of Emily Dickinson, one of Lee’s major influences. He suggests that Lee’s poems offer more emotional sentiment than Dickinson, as his contemporary language remains more accessible to modern readers. Duncan’s article situates Lee’s work within a literary lineage.

An Interview with Li-Young Lee by Matthew Fluharty (2000)

In this interview published by the Missouri Review, interviewer Matthew Fluharty asks Li-Young Lee a series of questions ranging from personal history to poetic inspiration and spiritual practice. The interview provides insight into Lee’s philosophies about art and poetry. The interview also addresses political questions about immigration, race, and cultural identity, though Lee generally avoids politics. Instead, he maintains that his focus is about expanding consciousness and creating art.

“Transcultural Poetics: Dissolving Borders in the Poetry of Li-Young Lee“ by Hend Hamed Ezzeldin (2017)

In this article, Ezzeldin argues that Lee’s poetry remains universal through his dedication to the metaphysical. By transcending time and space, Lee manages to embrace deeper spiritual truths that consciously exclude the cultural by creating bonds between himself and the rest of the world. The article examines concepts of the self vs. the other, suggesting that universality lies in the dissolution of these borders. Ezzeldin argues that Lee achieves universality by using his memory to write poetry that is deeply personal.

Listen to Poem

Listen to Li-Young Lee read his poem “Eating Alone”

In this video, Li-Young Lee reads “Eating Alone” from his debut collection, Rose. He also shares his philosophies on language, prayer, poetry and consciousness.