Introduction: “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
“Nativity” by Li-Young Lee, first appeared in the 2003 collection Book of My Nights, explores themes of childhood innocence, spiritual longing, and the complexities of human existence. Through vivid imagery and a contemplative tone, Lee invites readers to contemplate the profound questions of life and faith. The poem’s central idea revolves around the notion that even in the darkest moments, hope and wonder can be found, as symbolized by the birth of a child and the enduring power of love.
Text: “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
In the dark, a child might ask, What is the world?
just to hear his sister
promise, An unfinished wing of heaven,
just to hear his brother say,
A house inside a house,
but most of all to hear his mother answer,
One more song, then you go to sleep.
How could anyone in that bed guess
the question finds its beginning
in the answer long growing
inside the one who asked, that restless boy,
the night’s darling?
Later, a man lying awake,
he might ask it again,
just to hear the silence
charge him, This night
arching over your sleepless wondering,
this night, the near ground
every reaching-out-to overreaches,
just to remind himself
out of what little earth and duration,
out of what immense good-bye,
each must make a safe place of his heart,
before so strange and wild a guest
as God approaches.
Annotations: “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
| Stanza | Annotation |
| In the dark, a child might ask, What is the world? just to hear his sister promise, An unfinished wing of heaven, just to hear his brother say, A house inside a house, but most of all to hear his mother answer, One more song, then you go to sleep. | This stanza depicts a scene of a child’s innocent and existential question, with responses from family members that provide comforting but abstract answers. The mother’s response emphasizes warmth, safety, and the soothing routine of sleep. The child is seeking meaning but finds solace in the familial bonds. |
| How could anyone in that bed guess the question finds its beginning in the answer long growing inside the one who asked, that restless boy, the night’s darling? | Here, the speaker reflects on the deeper nature of the child’s question. The inquiry is portrayed as arising from a deep, inherent curiosity that has been building within the child. The child is described as “restless” and the “night’s darling,” suggesting a special connection to the mysterious, contemplative atmosphere of night. |
| Later, a man lying awake, he might ask it again, just to hear the silence charge him, This night arching over your sleepless wondering, | As the child grows into a man, the question remains. Now, however, it is met with silence. The silence is described as “charging” him, implying that it carries weight and significance. The night is vast, reflecting the existential uncertainty the man feels as he lies awake. |
| this night, the near ground every reaching-out-to overreaches, just to remind himself out of what little earth and duration, out of what immense good-bye, | This stanza explores the man’s realization that human life is fleeting and limited. The phrase “out of what little earth and duration” emphasizes the brevity of life, and “immense good-bye” hints at the inevitability of death and separation. The night reminds the man of these existential truths. |
| each must make a safe place of his heart, before so strange and wild a guest as God approaches. | The final stanza shifts to a spiritual tone. The man is advised to prepare his heart as a “safe place” before encountering “God,” who is described as a “strange and wild guest.” This implies that spiritual experiences, or encounters with the divine, are both powerful and unfamiliar, requiring inner preparation. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
| Literary Device | Definition | Example from the Poem | Explanation |
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. | “just to hear his sister promise” | The repetition of the ‘s’ sound creates a soft, soothing tone, enhancing the peaceful scene. |
| Allusion | An indirect reference to something outside the text. | “before so strange and wild a guest as God approaches.” | This refers to God, implying a spiritual or religious allusion without directly explaining it. |
| Anaphora | Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. | “just to hear…just to hear…just to hear” | The repeated phrase emphasizes the child’s desire to hear comforting answers from family members. |
| Assonance | Repetition of vowel sounds within words. | “arching over your sleepless wondering” | The long ‘o’ sound in “arching” and “over” adds a reflective, melodic quality to the line. |
| Caesura | A strong pause within a line of poetry. | “each must make a safe place of his heart, before…” | The pause after “heart” emphasizes the importance of the emotional preparation before meeting God. |
| Consonance | Repetition of consonant sounds within words or at the end of words. | “house inside a house” | The repetition of the ‘s’ sound enhances the rhythmic and meditative nature of the line. |
| Diction | The choice of words and style of expression by the poet. | “restless boy, the night’s darling” | The use of “restless” and “darling” captures the dual nature of the child’s curiosity and innocence. |
| Enjambment | The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line. | “the near ground / every reaching-out-to overreaches” | The lack of a pause carries the reader’s thoughts forward, reflecting the endless reaching and uncertainty. |
| Imagery | Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. | “One more song, then you go to sleep.” | This imagery appeals to the sense of sound and touch, evoking a comforting, nurturing atmosphere. |
| Irony | A contrast between expectation and reality. | “just to remind himself out of what little earth and duration” | It’s ironic that the man realizes how little time and space we actually have, yet we seek vast answers. |
| Metaphor | A direct comparison between two unrelated things. | “A house inside a house” | The metaphor suggests layers of meaning or experiences, perhaps referring to the complexities of existence. |
| Motif | A recurring theme or element in a literary work. | The question “What is the world?” | This question is a recurring motif, representing existential curiosity throughout the poem. |
| Onomatopoeia | A word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes. | N/A | There are no clear examples of onomatopoeia in this poem. |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things. | “This night arching over your sleepless wondering” | The night is personified as something that can “arch” and “charge” the man, adding an active presence to it. |
| Repetition | The repeated use of words or phrases for emphasis. | “just to hear…just to hear…just to hear” | Repetition emphasizes the child’s need to hear responses, reinforcing their search for comfort and meaning. |
| Rhetorical Question | A question asked for effect, not meant to be answered. | “What is the world?” | The child’s question is rhetorical, reflecting existential wonder rather than seeking a literal answer. |
| Simile | A comparison using “like” or “as.” | “so strange and wild a guest as God approaches” | God is compared to a “strange and wild guest,” emphasizing the unfamiliar and powerful nature of the divine. |
| Symbolism | The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. | “One more song, then you go to sleep.” | The song symbolizes comfort, and sleep represents peace or surrender, both literal and existential. |
| Tone | The general attitude or mood of the poem. | Reflective, spiritual, contemplative | The tone shifts from childhood innocence to deep reflection on life, existence, and spirituality. |
| Understatement | The presentation of something as smaller or less important than it is. | “out of what little earth and duration” | The understatement of life’s “little” time and space highlights its transient nature in the face of eternity. |
Themes: “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
- Innocence and Wonder: The poem begins with a child asking a fundamental question about the world, embodying the purity and curiosity of youth. The child’s siblings and mother offer comforting and reassuring answers, reflecting the nurturing environment of childhood. This theme of innocence is juxtaposed with the later image of the adult’s restless wonder, suggesting a loss of childhood simplicity and a deepening of existential questions.
- The Search for Meaning: Throughout the poem, the speaker seeks answers to profound questions about life, the universe, and God. The child’s initial inquiry about the world evolves into the adult’s contemplation of the night’s arching over their sleepless wondering. This theme highlights the human desire for understanding and purpose, even in the face of uncertainty.
- The Power of Love: The poem emphasizes the role of love in providing comfort, guidance, and a sense of belonging. The mother’s loving response to the child’s question and the image of a “safe place of his heart” suggest that love can be a source of solace and strength.
- The Divine and the Human: The poem explores the relationship between the individual and the divine. The “strange and wild guest” approaching the heart symbolizes the transcendent nature of God. The speaker’s struggle to reconcile the vastness of the universe with the intimate experience of the human soul reflects the tension between the finite and the infinite.
Literary Theories and “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
| Literary Theory | Application to “Nativity” | Reference |
| Deconstruction | This theory challenges the notion of a fixed meaning and explores the underlying contradictions and ambiguities within the text. In “Nativity,” the poem can be deconstructed by examining the tension between the child’s innocent questions and the adult’s complex contemplations, highlighting the instability of meaning. | “In the dark, a child might ask, What is the world?” |
| Psychoanalysis | This theory focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on human behavior. In “Nativity,” the speaker’s search for answers to existential questions can be interpreted as a reflection of unresolved childhood anxieties or a longing for a lost sense of security. | “Later, a man lying awake, he might ask it again, just to hear the silence charge him” |
| Postcolonialism | This theory examines the impact of colonialism on literature and culture. While “Nativity” may not explicitly address colonial themes, it can be analyzed through a postcolonial lens by considering how the speaker’s search for identity and meaning is influenced by cultural and historical factors. | “out of what little earth and duration, out of what immense good-bye, each must make a safe place of his heart” |
Critical Questions about “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
· What role does the motif of questioning play in the poem?
- In “Nativity,” questioning serves as the central motif, reflecting the human quest for understanding and meaning. The poem begins with the child’s innocent question, “What is the world?” (line 1), which underscores the existential curiosity that drives both the child and the adult in later stanzas. The child seeks answers from his family members, who each provide varying responses that mirror different levels of understanding—from his sister’s imaginative answer, “An unfinished wing of heaven” (line 3), to his mother’s comforting promise of a song. As the boy grows into a man, the question remains, now unanswered, as he is left with the silence of the night: “just to hear the silence charge him” (line 14). This transformation of questioning from childhood curiosity to adult introspection highlights the theme of the unknowability of life and the inevitable search for meaning.
· How does the poem explore the theme of transition from childhood to adulthood?
- The poem presents the transition from childhood to adulthood through the changing perspective on the same fundamental question about existence. As a child, the boy’s question “What is the world?” (line 1) is met with simple, comforting answers that satisfy his immediate curiosity and need for reassurance. The responses he receives from his siblings and mother provide imaginative, protective layers that shield him from existential uncertainty. However, in adulthood, the same question leads to silence, and the man faces the vastness of the night alone: “he might ask it again, just to hear the silence charge him” (line 13). The shift from receiving comforting answers to confronting silence reflects the complexity of adulthood, where existential questions remain unanswered, and the individual must find meaning within themselves.
· What is the significance of the night as a setting in the poem?
- The night functions as a powerful symbol in “Nativity,” representing both the unknown and a space for introspection. For the child, the night is a time of vulnerability and wonder, as he lies in bed asking, “What is the world?” (line 1). His family’s answers provide a sense of security, lulling him to sleep in the comforting embrace of the dark. For the adult, however, the night becomes a place of existential struggle and reflection. The man lies awake, facing the silence of the night, which “arches over” his sleepless thoughts (line 15). This shift from childhood comfort to adult anxiety signifies the night’s dual role as both a comforting and disquieting force, symbolizing the journey from innocence to deep contemplation.
· How does the poem address the relationship between human existence and the divine?
- In “Nativity,” Li-Young Lee explores the complex relationship between human existence and the divine through the metaphor of God as a “strange and wild” guest approaching the human heart (line 23). The poem suggests that human beings must prepare their hearts as a “safe place” (line 22) before encountering the divine, implying that spiritual experiences require an inner readiness that is both emotional and existential. The poem reflects on the brevity and fragility of human life—“out of what little earth and duration” (line 20)—and contrasts it with the immense presence of God. This dichotomy highlights the difficulty of grasping the divine within the limited scope of human understanding, suggesting that the approach of God is both awe-inspiring and beyond comprehension.
Literary Works Similar to “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
- “The Lamb” by William Blake: Both poems explore innocence and the profound questions of existence from the perspective of a child, with religious undertones and a focus on the divine.
- “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden: Like “Nativity,” this poem reflects on family relationships and the unspoken emotional depth between parents and children, with a focus on love and sacrifice.
- “Aubade” by Philip Larkin: Both poems contemplate existential questions about life, death, and the passage of time, with Larkin’s focus on the inevitability of death paralleling the reflective tone in “Nativity.”
- “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman: Whitman’s poem, like “Nativity,” explores the complexities of identity, existence, and the connection between the self and the universe, combining personal introspection with larger existential themes.
- “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats: Both poems touch on spiritual themes and the approach of the divine, with Yeats’s portrayal of an impending force echoing the arrival of the “strange and wild guest” in “Nativity.”
Representative Quotations of “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “What is the world?” | The child asks an existential question, seeking understanding from his family members. | Existentialism – The question represents a fundamental search for meaning in the universe. |
| “An unfinished wing of heaven” | The sister’s imaginative answer to the child’s question, suggesting a view of the world as incomplete. | Imaginative Realism – The answer reflects a blend of spiritual and imaginative interpretation. |
| “A house inside a house” | The brother offers a metaphorical response, evoking layered realities or complexities of existence. | Structuralism – The metaphor suggests a world of interrelated structures and layers. |
| “One more song, then you go to sleep.” | The mother’s comforting response to the child’s question, prioritizing care over existential answers. | Psychoanalysis – The mother’s response emphasizes the need for emotional security over intellectual inquiry. |
| “the question finds its beginning in the answer long growing inside the one who asked” | The narrator reflects on how the child’s question is a result of internal, pre-existing contemplation. | Phenomenology – The focus on how the question arises from internal experience highlights subjective consciousness. |
| “he might ask it again, just to hear the silence charge him” | As an adult, the man asks the same question but is met with silence, reflecting the unresolved nature of his inquiry. | Absurdism – The silence in response to existential questioning represents the absurdity of searching for meaning. |
| “This night arching over your sleepless wondering” | The night is personified, emphasizing its presence over the man’s thoughts as he wrestles with his question. | Romanticism – The night becomes a sublime, almost mystical force that surrounds the individual. |
| “out of what little earth and duration” | The poem reflects on the brevity and fragility of human life in comparison to spiritual or cosmic forces. | Existentialism – The limited scope of human life emphasizes the struggle to find meaning in the face of mortality. |
| “each must make a safe place of his heart” | The narrator suggests the necessity of preparing emotionally for the divine or existential encounters. | Spiritualism – The heart is metaphorically seen as a sanctuary, indicating personal spiritual preparation. |
| “before so strange and wild a guest as God approaches.” | The divine is described as a “strange and wild guest,” emphasizing its unpredictability and vastness. | Theology – This reflects the awe-inspiring and incomprehensible nature of the divine within human experience. |
Suggested Readings: “Nativity” by Li-Young Lee
- Xiaojing, Zhou. “Inheritance and Invention in Li-Young Lee’s Poetry.” MELUS, vol. 21, no. 1, 1996, pp. 113–32. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/467810. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
- Lee, James, and Li-Young Lee. “Li-Young Lee.” BOMB, no. 51, 1995, pp. 10–13. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40425623. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
- Kolosov, Jacqueline. “Poetries of Transformation: Joy Harjo and Li-Young Lee.” Studies in American Indian Literatures, vol. 15, no. 2, 2003, pp. 39–57. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20737192. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
- Bilyak, Dianne, and Li-Young Lee. “Interview with Li-Young Lee.” The Massachusetts Review, vol. 44, no. 4, 2003, pp. 600–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25092000. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
- Tod Marshall, and Li-Young Lee. “To Witness the Invisible: A Talk with Li-Young Lee.” The Kenyon Review, vol. 22, no. 1, 2000, pp. 129–47. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4337986. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.