I Ask My Mother to Sing

“I Ask My Mother to Sing” is a lyric poem. A typical lyric poem is on the short side and expresses the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Historically, lyric poems were supposed to be sung out loud or supplemented by musical instruments. Lee’s poem references the lyric tradition since it’s centered on singing.

The poem’s title provides structure and context. Without the title, the first line isn’t clear. With the title, the first line makes sense. The speaker makes a request: He asks his mother to sing. The first line of the poem picks up where the title leaves off. The mom complies with the speaker’s request and sings. The speaker’s grandma sings too. Together, the mom and the grandma create a jovial mood. The simile in Line 2 reinforces the merriment; the speaker compares his mom and grandma to “young girls,” which suggests vibrancy and energy.

In Line 3, the mood of the poem shifts. The arrival of the speaker’s father brings death. The speaker’s father is not alive; he can’t join the singing. The absent father adds somberness. However, the mood doesn’t become entirely mournful.