Thanks so much Fotini, super glad it landed :-) That is my new coriander plant, which I am trying to grow haha. Fingers crossed I don't end up killing it!
The poem by Chou Han really captures something that is all too pervasive in a lot of communities but rarely expressed... It is a good perspective to be exposed to.
And your poem is delicately moving... The end with the coriander especially got me.
Thanks for saying that Hasse - yeah, I agree! And thanks so much for the kind words about my poem. I was proud of this one, so it means a lot to hear it landed :-) Interestingly, the coriander was the first image I had - the rest was kind of constructed around it.
That this is the only known published poem by Chou Han makes it even more stark and powerful. My brother's were taught by the Christian Brothers, me by the nuns. Violence and fear were a natural part of our education and religious upbringing. Your poem for Chou Han is gentle and healing, he would really appreciate it.
You’re so right Treasa - and thank you so much for sharing a little of you and your brothers’ stories, and the deeply thoughtful comment. Yeah violence and fear have deep roots in institutional religious training. I’m sorry you had to go through that. And thanks so much for the kind words about my verse - I tried to make it healing, while acknowledging the pain, so your comment means a whole bunch to me 💜
This poem brought to mind a play I saw last spring—This Far Country—about the Chinese who were interred on Angel Island, here in the San Francisco Bay. They wrote poetry on the walls that has been preserved. I love these connections between works of art.
Oh wow - I have read poetry written by Japanese folk detained at Angel Island in the 1910s, but didn't know about the Chinese history there as well. Will have to do some more research - thanks so much for the heads up. The play sounds like it would have been really good. Yeah, it is heartening that poetry (and other arts) so often has been able to bring comfort and record resistance in times of oppression. Here's a tanka by the poet Kashin Shimizu, from 1915, which I recently came across, and thought you might enjoy (my translation):
Thank you, Dick. That’s a lovely poem and translation. Amazingly, the officials kept trying to paint over the poetry but because of how the walls were made, they ended up preserving the poems. A little poetic justice.
I will check it out. You might want to look at West: A Translation by Paisley Rekdal. https://westtrain.org/. She’s done a book and website with all the poems from the walls. I really need to take the ferry out there sometime.
Thanks so much Kim - I don't really present them as a contrast y'know, more as a pair - yin/yang, one only exists because of the other. I deeply admire Chou Han's bravery in writing about something that would have been difficult and probably dangerous to say at the time. But yeah, I do really appreciate your kind words about my poem - I was proud of this one!
The coriander got me too...
Thanks so much Fotini, super glad it landed :-) That is my new coriander plant, which I am trying to grow haha. Fingers crossed I don't end up killing it!
With a bit of water and lots of love your coriander will thrive, I am sure!!!
Awww, the vote of confidence means a lot! We'll see haha.
The poem by Chou Han really captures something that is all too pervasive in a lot of communities but rarely expressed... It is a good perspective to be exposed to.
And your poem is delicately moving... The end with the coriander especially got me.
Thanks for saying that Hasse - yeah, I agree! And thanks so much for the kind words about my poem. I was proud of this one, so it means a lot to hear it landed :-) Interestingly, the coriander was the first image I had - the rest was kind of constructed around it.
Sometimes that seems to be the way to do it :) Either way, well done!
Appreciate it Hasse 🌸
That this is the only known published poem by Chou Han makes it even more stark and powerful. My brother's were taught by the Christian Brothers, me by the nuns. Violence and fear were a natural part of our education and religious upbringing. Your poem for Chou Han is gentle and healing, he would really appreciate it.
You’re so right Treasa - and thank you so much for sharing a little of you and your brothers’ stories, and the deeply thoughtful comment. Yeah violence and fear have deep roots in institutional religious training. I’m sorry you had to go through that. And thanks so much for the kind words about my verse - I tried to make it healing, while acknowledging the pain, so your comment means a whole bunch to me 💜
It's incredibly sad in its shortness; as if I had a sorrowful conversation with Chou Han...
Aw that's such a heartbreaking way of putting it. 💜
This poem brought to mind a play I saw last spring—This Far Country—about the Chinese who were interred on Angel Island, here in the San Francisco Bay. They wrote poetry on the walls that has been preserved. I love these connections between works of art.
Oh wow - I have read poetry written by Japanese folk detained at Angel Island in the 1910s, but didn't know about the Chinese history there as well. Will have to do some more research - thanks so much for the heads up. The play sounds like it would have been really good. Yeah, it is heartening that poetry (and other arts) so often has been able to bring comfort and record resistance in times of oppression. Here's a tanka by the poet Kashin Shimizu, from 1915, which I recently came across, and thought you might enjoy (my translation):
.
Ah, it was in March last year
That I, having been raised in the mountains,
First arrived by boat, under the moon—
Through Angel Island’s iron webbing
I gaze at the hills, what a horrible month.
.
Thank you, Dick. That’s a lovely poem and translation. Amazingly, the officials kept trying to paint over the poetry but because of how the walls were made, they ended up preserving the poems. A little poetic justice.
Oh - and here's a link to a book about Angel Island. It's where the Japanese of the Shimizu poem came from. I kept meaning to go back and have more of a read - and you've definitely inspired me to dig a bit deeper. Thought it might interest you as well: https://dokumen.pub/voices-of-angel-island-inscriptions-and-immigrant-poetry-19101945-9781501360459-9781501360480-9781501360473.html (the site kinda looks dodgy, but it is safe haha)
I will check it out. You might want to look at West: A Translation by Paisley Rekdal. https://westtrain.org/. She’s done a book and website with all the poems from the walls. I really need to take the ferry out there sometime.
Ohhhh thanks LeeAnn - will definitely go check this out! Yeah sounds like it would be a really interesting day trip :-)
Love that! What an amazing symbol of resilience. 💜
His poem brings to life the reality of what happened back then. I don’t think we get the emotion from history books and documentaries.
I really enjoyed your poem, Dick.
Well said Rod - and thanks for saying it. :-) Also really appreciate your enjoyment of my one. Means a lot.
Sure thing, Dick. What you do is really cool.
Aw, cheers Rod! 💜
I much prefer yours to the Chou Han poem. Much Prefer!
Thanks so much Kim - I don't really present them as a contrast y'know, more as a pair - yin/yang, one only exists because of the other. I deeply admire Chou Han's bravery in writing about something that would have been difficult and probably dangerous to say at the time. But yeah, I do really appreciate your kind words about my poem - I was proud of this one!