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,
brothers, sister, my mother who will
taste the sweetest meat of the head,
holding it between her fingers
deftly, the way my father did
weeks ago. Then he lay down
to sleep like a snow-covered road
winding through pines older than him,
without any travelers, and lonely for no one.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Li-Young Lee's poem Eating Together

5 Comments

  1. Alvin says:

    is it first person or 3rd person

  2. Wreggers says:

    This is about a family losing a father

  3. sayra says:

    This poem is quite clear. They father passing away and mother taking over him now that he’s gone. In the poem he has recently died. “My mother who will taste the sweetest meat of the head, holding it between her fingers deftly, the way my father did weeks ago” Poem is very short and self explanatory. In the end it describes how he died. From the description he died peacefully and quietly. The way it’s written in them eating all together is just reminding them that their father will no longer be joining them. As we know, a lot of families when it’s time for lunch or dinner, it’s a time when we all sit in the table, it’s when we all talk about our day and we are all just focused on family. Yet Lee is reminding that father isn’t there anymore. Mother is who will try to play that roll of father now.

  4. Vanessa says:

    wEll you freakin idiot, “eating together” is a form of bond between father and daughter before he died

  5. Meghan says:

    what does “eating together” have to do with her fathers death?
    I’m puzzled

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