Poem Analysis: The Gift By Li-Young Lee

In the poem “The Gift” by Li-Young Lee, the overlying message to the readers is sharing the gift of kindness and love. In the beginning, Li shares the story of himself as a young child who has acquired a splinter. Immediately, he goes to his father for help. His father, most likely frustrated by young Li, proceeds to remove the splinter with great gentleness and tenderness, all the while telling a story. Li later shares that he recalled this memory when his time came to show that same kindness. As said in the words of Li, “Look how I shave her thumbnail down so carefully she feels no pain. Watch as I lift the splinter out.” Li finishes by once again going back to when he was a kid and says that although he was frightened by the splinter,