The gift – poem by Li - young Lee

 The gift – poem by Li - young Lee

I request the readers to read the poem from the link above and then my review. Thanks.

We learn rather late to use a gadget, accessory or tool depending on the urgency. We seldom understand that people are also like a tool or gadget or accessory. Using people without hurting self is the toughest skill one can acquire. You need people. You need to use a person or exploit her lot more. Once a person acquires the skill he is gifted. The very gift might push a person eternally into opportunism and parasitism. The game will always keep going. The poem also subtly leaves it to the reader to ponder what gifts carry. The present doesn’t certainly carry a mere wish. Any offer is a step forward in an expectation. The receiver’s ability to understand it or rise up to it, varies as he grows older or more mature.

The narrator reminisces his childhood; his father after removing the splinter from his injured palm gave it over to him so that he gets acquainted. There is no bitterness but the painful way of learning to use the sharp object is still like a deep scar in latter’s mind. Learning and internalizing is painful every time, the hurt varies based on the learner’s sensitivity. The strength of the poem is a father’s relationship with his son and his role in a son’s formative years has been used as a metaphor. The reader ponders to find out that none can rule out a learner’s pain nor take it upon self. Everyone has to learn and remember to use the skill all alone. And to remain strong when alone you need all the learning and skill as your companions. The value and utility of a gift depends on how far the receiver learnt about the giver’s intentions.