March 7, 2012
Dear Li-Young,
I have
been reading your poetry in your book Behind My Eyes. I’ve recently come
to enjoy the poem Virtues of the Boring Husband.
I understand most the events in this poem, from the husband helping his
wife sleep to his explanations of his theories of love. However, two of his
methods of portraying this theory elude my understanding, and I’d like to ask
for clarification. One, when he beings to describe love as the coming together
as opposites, is this deeper than the simple play on “opposites attract?” I
find that your words often have multiple meanings and can be interpreted many
ways and I wanted to know if there was something I was missing. Secondly, what
is it that you are referencing in the speaker’s remark about the sages’ saying
about moving up the ladder of love? It seems foreign to me and I can’t think of
any sayings that I’ve heard that resemble it. If you could clear up my
questions it would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Emilio Ramirez
Emilio, I thought your letter to Li-Young was good and insightful, but I feel like you should probably ask your questions regarding the poem's meaning in terms of the theme and the significance Li-Young's diction choices. That way, you'd be addressing actual elements of poetry in regards to Li-Young's " Virtues of the Boring Husband. Other than that, I really think you will be able to make a well thought out, structured annotation.
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