Ishle Yi Park's The Temperature of This Water: Anatomy of Korean America

Abstract

Ishle Yi Park is a unique poet in Asian American literary history. The second-generation Korean American poet has read her poems and taught creative writing in schools, universities, community centers, and prisons across the United States. Unlike most Asian American poets, Park has recited and performed her poems at poetry slams and readings in clubs and cafes. She has been a featured performer uniquely mixing poetry, prose, storytelling, and song at hundreds of cultural venues and festivals in several countries. In 2001, the spoken-word artist became the LoudPoet of the Year and Grand Slam Champion of Bar 13 in the East Village, New York. She was the first Korean American to make the finals in the National Poetry Slam. The hip-hop poet was a touring cast member of the Tony Award-winning Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam show and is a regular on the HBO series. The versatile artist released a CD of twelve poems and songs set to beats, Work Is Love, in 2003. The third Poet Laureate of Queens, Park ha...