As you read the introductory pre-reading we see the four poems are written anonymously from Chinese immigrants that were detained for lack of legal documentation in which they were not at fault. After the earthquake and fire, these immigrants basically had to start the legal process over. This makes it easy to assume that the poems will characterize the negative impacts of the event, which is true for the first three poems.
Poem#1: This poem is by a bystander, it seems. He/she describes the hundreds of writings upon the walls and how people are sad about their situation. However, this writer still has hope as he/she mentions that even heroes go through difficulties before success.
Poem#2: This poem shows the losing of hope. This narrator has been counting her husband's detainment; almost a year. A young woman beside her is in grief, probably due to a similar predicament. This makes the narrator feel uneasy, as she to may one day face the same misfortune.
Poem#3: This poem is written by a bystander witnessing the depression of an old, dying man. This man sits with and arch and smokes a pipe. He lost all hope and lost all his fortune. "He won't even move if you drag him" showing he also has no will to continue.
Poem #4: This poem comes as an interesting twist. This poem seems "happy." It is about Chinese New Year and the celebration of fortune and wishing of fortune to others. While the predicament seems controversial to the celebration, Chinese still practice their tradition, in a way, to boost hope and morale.
Note: all poems don't have any ryme patterns or schemes. They are written as though they were notes/ conversations to oneself or to others,
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