Li-Young Lee has a gift; he has a gift of writing and a gift in his heart. “The Gift” portrays his gift in his heart perfectly and has many inconspicuous meanings. I believe some hidden meanings in “The Gift” are forgiveness and kindness. When Lee was a boy he got a splinter in his hand. Rather than his father scolding him, Lee says “the flames of discipline he raised above my head.” What Lee is trying to say that his father’s reprimands went over his head, therefore “missing him” and never actually being said aloud. Instead of making him suffer the consequences, Lee's father forgave his foolish mistake. Lee’s father did not take out the splinter with malice, but with kindness and gentleness. We see this when Lee writes, “my father recited
