From the time the Immigration Station opened in 1910, the walls of the detention barracks became the voice of the men held inside. Through frustration, fear, anxiety, and possibly even boredom, many detainees wrote or carved their thoughts into the soft wooden walls. These inscriptions form a very personal written account of a unique immigration experience that is now a part of our American heritage.
The proliferation of Chinese inscriptions undoubtedly led other immigrants to leave behind their own personal messages. Japanese immigrants, and later Japanese POWs and repatriating Japanese nationals, also left inscriptions on the walls. Writings in Russian, English, and South Asian languages can also be found throughout the barracks.
DETENTION BARRACKS INSCRIPTIONS
220 Chinese poems
96 Chinese inscriptions
89 English inscriptions
62 Japanese inscriptions
33 Chinese graphic images
7 Russian inscriptions
4 South Asian inscriptions
4 European inscriptions
2 Korean inscriptions
When the Immigration Station closed in 1940, the Army took possession of the station, converting it to a prisoner of war (POW) processing center. This lasted through 1946, with its last year used as a repatriation center for Japanese nationals. Upon its final closing, the facility was decommissioned by the Army and turned over to the State of California. It laid abandoned until 1963, when the California Department of Parks and Recreation took possession of the island as a state park.
For the next eight years, a plan was developed to turn the site into a campground with extensive recreational facilities. Demolition of the Immigration Station buildings was imminent. Fortunately in 1970, park ranger Alexander Weiss decided to explore the old barracks and discovered a multitude of Chinese carvings on the interior walls. Weiss turned to the local Asian American community, for help in finding the meanings of the carvings. They determined that the writings were historically significant. This led to an avalanche of activism from volunteer professionals and students that lasted through the 1970s and ultimately resulted in the detention barracks and its poems being saved for future generations.
Chinese Poetry of the Detention Barracks
The most visible and durable testimony of those detained at Angel Island are the notable poems, some written, some carved with a classical Cantonese technique into the wooden walls of the barracks. This was not mere graffiti. Couched in classical allegories and historical references, these poems poured forth the aspirations of the immigrants with their anger and sadness at the injustice of their initial reception by America.
THE POETS
From 1910 to 1940 most of Angel Island’s Chinese detainees were young men between 14 and 18 years of age. Some had an elementary school education in the form of private tutoring, but they were rarely educated at the high school level. Detainees knew some classical Chinese and the ABC’s of Chinese calligraphy. However, some fairly high quality poems indicated that there were a few older and well-educated persons amidst the detainee population. The overwhelming majority of the authors of the poems did not sign their names to their poems. Only a dozen or so signed their real names. A few others included their surnames, birthplaces, and the dates of their writing.
POETRY THEMES
Traditionally, Chinese scholars emphasize that poetry reveals one’s heart, aspirations and feelings. One can imagine that a group of young men with some education came across the Pacific Ocean with very high expectations of a new life in the New World. They had no idea that they would be detained on Angel Island. Given this situation, the prevailing sentiments were disappointment, anger, depression and homesickness beyond some imaginary lines, a complex only found in youth. Some themes have been found in the poetry at the Immigration Station. Theses themes include: missing home village; unfulfilled aspirations; concerning the nation and people; hopelessness and pain; hatred; life in detention; and ancient stories, legends and historical figures.
POETRY FORMS
The poems on Angel Island mainly are of the classic Chinese poetry, notably the Tang Poetry. Some of the poems actually observe the strict rhyming patterns, couplet requirements and the regulation of tunes. But this is not universal to all poems.
Poetry Examples
The following poems were published in Him Mark Lai, Genny Lim, and Judy Yung’s book, Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910-1940, 2nd edition (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2014).
Translation
Detained in this wooden house for several tens of days,
It is all because of the Mexican exclusion law which implicates me.
It’s a pity heroes have no way of exercising their prowess.
I can only await the word so that I can snap Zu’s whip.
From now on, I am departing far from this building
All of my fellow villagers are rejoicing with me.
Don’t say that everything within is Western styled.
Even if it is built of jade, it has turned into a cage.
Poem 135
獨坐稅關中，
心內起不痛。
亦因家道貧，
遠遊不近親。
兄弟來到叫，
只得上埠行。
黑鬼無道理，
唐人要掃地。
每日食兩餐，
何時轉回返。
- 辛亥年七月十二日李字題寧邑
Poem 3
Translation
Sitting alone in the customs office,
How could my heart not ache?
Had my family not been poor,
I would not have traveled far away from home.
It was my elder brother who urged me
To embark on a voyage to this shore.
The black devil here is unjust-
He forces the Chinese to clean the floor.
Two meals a day are provided,
But I wonder, when will I be homeward bound?
- Lee from Toishan District, September 4, 1911
本擬舊歲來美洲，
洋蚨迫阻到初秋。
織女會牛郎哥日，
乃搭林肯總統舟。
餐風嘗浪廿餘日，
幸得平安抵美洲。
以為數日可上埠，
點知苦困木樓囚。
番奴苛待真難受，
感觸家境淚雙流。
但願早登三藩市，
免在此間倍添愁。
Poem 7
Translation
Originally, I had intended to come to America last year.
Lack of money delayed me until early autumn.
It was on the day that the Weaver Maiden met the Cowherd
That I took passage on the President Lincoln.
I ate wind and tasted waves for more than twenty days.
Fortunately, I arrived safely on the American continent.
I thought I could land in a few days.
How was I to know I would become a prisoner suffering in the wooden building?
The barbarians' abuse is really difficult to take.
When my family's circumstances stir my emotions, a double stream of tears flows.
I only wish I can land in San Francisco soon,
Thus sparing me this additional sorrow here.
香山許生勉客題
說去花旗喜溢顏，
千金羅掘不辭艱。
親離有話喉先哽，
妻別多情淚對潸。
浪大如山頻駭客，
政苛似虎倍嘗蠻。
毋忘此日君登岸，
發奮前程莫懶閒
Poem 10
Translation
Poem by One Named Huie from Heungshan Encouraging the Traveler
Just talk about going to the land of the Flowery Flag and my countenance fills with happiness.
Not without hard work were one thousand pieces of gold dug up and gathered together.
There were words of farewell to the parents, but the throat choked up first.
There were many feelings, many tears flowing face to face, when parting with the wife.
Waves big as mountains often astonished this traveler.
With laws harsh as tigers, I had a taste of all the barbarities.
Do not forget this day when you land ashore.
Push yourself ahead and do not be lazy or idle.
Translation
Random Thoughts Deep at Night
In the quiet of night, I heard, faintly, the whistling of wind.
The forms and shadows saddened me; upon seeing the landscape, I composed a poem.
The floating clouds, the fog, darken the sky.
The moon shines faintly as the insects chirp.
Grief and bitterness entwined are heaven sent.
The sad person sits alone, leaning by a window.
Written by Yee of Toishan
牢籠躍入出無能，
無任傷悲血淚橫。
精衛啣砂填夙恨，
征鴻訴月哀頻生。
子卿絕域誰憐問？
阮籍途窮空哭行。
芳草幽蘭怨凋落，
那時方得任升騰？
台邑李鏡波題
Poem 41
Translation
After leaping into prison, I cannot come out.
From endless sorrows, tears and blood streak.
The jingwei bird carries gravel to fill its old grudge.
The migrating wild goose complains to the moon, mourning his harried life.
When Ziqing was in distant lands, who pitied and inquired after him?
When Ruan Ji reached the end of the road, he shed futile tears.
The scented grass and hidden orchids complain of withering and falling.
When may I be allowed to soar at my own pleasing?
Written by Lee Gengbo of Toishan
囚困木屋天復天，
自由束縛豈堪言？
舉目誰歡惟靜坐，
關心自悶不成眠。
日永樽空愁莫解，
夜長枕冷倩誰憐？
參透箇中孤苦味，
何如歸去學耕田？
Poem 43
Translation
Imprisoned in the wooden building day after day,
My freedom withheld; how can I bear to talk about it?
I look to see who is happy, but they only sit quietly.
I am anxious and depressed and cannot fall asleep.
The days are long and the bottle constantly empty; my sad mood, even so, is not dispelled.
Nights are long and the pillow cold; who can pity my loneliness?
After experiencing such loneliness and sorrow,
Why not just return home and learn to plow the fields?