Chinese Poetry / Words from the 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 Couched in classical allegories and historical references, these poems poured forth the aspirations of the immigrants with their anger and sadness at the injustice of their initial reception by America.

This gallery represents 12 of the 135 poems translated and 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.

Poem 3 / Poem 19 / Poem 24 / Poem 26 / Poem 40 / Poem 45 / Poem 53 / Poem 56 / Poem 61 / Poem 105 / Poem 106 / Poem 124

Since our parting, another autumn has yet arrived.
I have become a distant traveller of far away places.
Remembering your great kindness, I know in my heart I have not repaid you.
Hoping to see good tidings, I’ll depend on writing letters.

Poem 19

Although I had read through four or five loads of poetry and history,
I had only one blue shirt when I became old.
The American woman asked what age I was,
Fifty years ago it was 23.

Poem 105

When I think about it, it is really miserable.
For what reason does the blue heaven today,
Imprison this humble person in a wooden building?
With no trace of tidings, it is really distressing.

Poem 53