Rainn Wilson reads “The City in Which I Love You” 

This channel has been such a big source of comfort during these times.

Rainn Wilson was a pleasant surprise to see here. I’ve been binging The Office during quarantine.

_Everything is punished by the absence of you._ weirdly speaks to me on some deeper level

This poem is astounding. Incredible. "Everything is punished with the absence of you" Not being able to see my boyfriend during this weird situation the world is in right now, I had to pause the video because that line resonated with me so much. So beautifully and elegantly and painfully written. And Rainn reads it so perfectly. I love it. Now I need to read more of Li-Young Lee's poetry.

"If I feel the night move to disclosures or crescendos, it's only because I'm famished for meaning, the night merely dissolves." I can't get past that. Being laid off and required to stay at home all day every day, watching my relationship deteriorate and end, I've spent many nights alone on my porch, in an attitude of prayer. Famished for meaning is exactly where I find myself. Thank you all for helping this series to exist

Holy imagery. This poem was incredible

Li-Young Lee is such a master and, not surprising, Rainn reads this so well. Thank you!

I really, really love this. I love how it describes decadent, violent cityscapes where "human figures huddle, each aspiring to its own ghosts". I love how it insists that their stories will forever be a mystery to us ("they are not me forever") but also hints at a universal human experience (longing, searching, dying). I love how it describes the sunrise ("the sea hauls the sun on its back, strikes the land, which rebukes it"). And I love how it ends on a hopeful note ("And I never believed that the multitude of dreams and many words were vain").

"Threshed to excellence, I'll achieve you." Wow.

That cascading passage of all the people he is not, falling into that scene of quiet night and intense longing: UUUGGGHHHHHH! It's far too much. Thank you. Also, I resonate deeply with the guy bearing a hole in his forehead. Not sure what that means :)

This poem is absolutely amazing. How can anybody write something as beautiful as that? I’m speechless.

Such an amazing poem. And so beautifully read. His voice gave me goosebumps.

Read so well

omg♥ Im in loveeeeeeeeee, Im in love with Rainn, I always thought ( since I saw him ) he has such a greatest voice, and I think his soul is so special, Here I confirmed, the biggest pleasure, his voice, a poem, and love involved. thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love how the author intertwines David's words (Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes -multitude of words) throughout this poem

This reading, along with the poem itself, gave me goosebumps. So beautiful.

I was a little worried about what I was getting into when I saw how long the video is, but WOW was that worth the full listen! Such an incredible poem and the reading totally kept my attention.

Great reading of one of my favorite poems

Wow! I’m speechless

This is the best

I really wasn't ready for this

Wasn't expecting this in my notifs today haha

One of my favorites how did I just find this.

"Is prayer, then, the proper attitude for the mind that longs to be freely blown but which gets snagged on the barb called world, that toothache, the actual? What prayer would I build? And to whom?" Somehow I'm constantly asking myself this, even before I had the words.

this is badass

nice reading, Dwight!

I know it's imagery but all I could think was this person really needs to move to a nicer city.

I've been trying for a while now to find out more about the background or setting of this poem, anyone have any luck? I mean when he made a reference to swastikas I wondered, but don't want to assume it is more than metaphor

I listen but all I can hear is "Today smoking is gonna save lives" 😭 please

Yeah this is the first one here that really upset and bothered me. I don't want to start anything but I guess I am... The idea of a swastika on a synagogue being used as an image in a love poem makes me feel viscerally ill. I'm not saying you shouldn't write it or read it or like it or post it. I'm just expressing my reaction to the poem and it really really bothered me and I just hope people read this and consider if this was the most loving thing or not