Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee was born on August 19, 1957, in Djakarta, Indonesia, to Chinese parents who were political exiles. His great grandfather was the first president of the Republic of China; Lee's father was also in an

Early in the Morning

by Li-Young Lee (b. 1957)

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15

While the long grain is softening

in the water, gurgling

over a low stove flame, before

the salted Winter Vegetable is sliced

for breakfast, before the birds,

my mother glides an ivory comb

through her hair, heavy

and black as calligrapher's ink.

She sits at the foot of the bed.

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