Unsettling America Poem Response

In the poem, "Mnemonic" by Li-Young Lee, I found it to be very powerful and heart warming. As the author discusses his relationship with his father, he recalls the memories he had with him. Memory is sweet, no matter what the cause or effect. The title is a great name for the poem because it depicts the whole theme of the poem. The word mnemonic refers to memory which connects to the general theme of the poem. One example would be when he was cold, his father gave him the blue sweater. That one sentence shows the memory of his father's compassion and the fervor with which his father cared for him. Another example is when he remembers when his father spanked him but only because he loved him. The common literary term used in the poem is metaphor. The metaphor about the earth being flat rather than round would express the difficulties he would have in his life if he didn't have his father in it. Because his father was in his life, his earth was round and he sees all things revealed as an adult. His memories were a purpose of his way of life.