Li-Young Lee

Li-Young Lee apparently had an at-podium break-down of sorts, an episode for the renowned poet of Cat Power stylistics. One can't help but wonder what happened on-stage for the man. His behaviour was erratic and must have been somewhat desperate. For us, it is strange and shocking- this kind of poetic break down in the era of the breakdown of popular poetry.

From Li-Young Lee's A Story:

Sad is the man who is asked for a story
and can't come up with one.

His five-year-old son waits in his lap.
Not the same story, Baba. A new one.
The man rubs his chin, scratches his ear.

In a room full of books in a world
of stories, he can recall
not one, and soon, he thinks, the boy
will give up on his father.