Li-Young Lee

About the Author

Li-Young Lee is an acclaimed American poet of Chinese descent, born in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1957, whose work draws deeply from his family's tumultuous history of exile and migration, blending personal introspection with universal themes of memory, love, and spiritual longing. Raised in the United States after fleeing political unrest, Lee's poetry often explores the intersections of heritage, identity, and the human condition, evoking a profound sense of tenderness and resilience. A recipient of the prestigious Lannan Literary Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship, he continues to enchant readers with his lyrical voice that bridges the personal and the transcendent, as seen in his evocative collection Behind My Eyes: Poems, which captures the quiet intensities of everyday revelation.