Li-Young Lee

In the steamer is the trout ,seasoned with slivers of ginger .two sprigs of green onion, and sesame oil ,We shall eat it with rice for lunch

To pull the metal splinter from my palm .my father recited a story in a low voice .I watched his lovely face and not the blade Before the story ended, he’d removed

,People have been trying to kill me since I was born a man tells his son, trying to explain .the wisdom of learning a second tongue It’s an old story from the previous century

In sixth grade Mrs. Walker slapped the back of my head and made me stand in the corner for not knowing the difference