p

You Must Sing

He sings in his father's arms, sings his father

to sleep, all the while seeing how on that face

grown suddenly strange, wasting to shadow,

time moves. Stern time. Sweet time. Because his father

asked, he sings; because they are wholly lost.

How else, in immaculate noon, will each find

each, who are so close now? So close and lost.

His voice stands at windows, runs everywhere.

Was death giant? O, how will he find his

father? They are so close. Was death a guest?

By which door did it come? All the day's doors

Are closed. He must go out of those hours, that house,

The enfolding limbs, go burdened to learn;

You must sing to be found; when found, you must sing.

Li-Young Lee