Week 8 Analysis: Close Reading for Anonymous Chinese Immigrants

Thesis: the poems that were written in a time of hardship for Chinese immigrants after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

 1
Over a hundred poems are on the walls. Looking at them, they are all pining at the delayed progress. What can one sad person say to another? Unfortunate travelers everywhere wish to commiserate (354). These poems were written by the Chinese immigrants who faced a lot of setbacks in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed all immigration records. I feel bad for these immigrants. They must have been so full of hope when they arrived to San Francisco but after their immigration records were destroyed, they must have been deeply disappointed.

Gain or lose, how is one to know what is predestined? Rich or poor, who is to say it is not the will of heaven? (354). I find this interesting. This is an interesting way to think. We may all have a destiny. Yes, we all make choices in life, but this makes me think that maybe no matter our choices, any choice we make will lead to the same destination.

Why should one complain if he is detained and imprisoned here? From ancient times, heroes often were the first one to face adversity (354). This is telling me that we should accept anything that comes our way because we cannot change it. I can tell the person who wrote this poem is writing poems as a way to cope with a current tough situation.

2
I count on my finger: a year is about to end. In the embroidery room, a young woman laments: I am still somewhat young
Yet time passes ever so quickly, in the blink of an eye, Gone and never to return; No one can detain it. Enjoy life when the time is right, don't ever delay (355). This lady is very full of sorrow and regret. This does remind us to enjoy every moment we can because those moments may not come back again. 


 I really enjoyed reading these poems. I can tell the immigrants were suffering but out of this suffering came these beautiful poems. Art is a healthy way to express pain. 




Hicks, Jack. “Anonymous Chinese Immigrants.” The Literature of California, edited by James D.           Houston et al., vol. 1, University of California Press, 2000, pp. 354–355.