Woeser

[Jennifer Chang]

https://www.rfa.org/english/women/woeser-09302008132134.html

 

I chose poems by Woeser because I was interested in learning more about conflict between Tibet and China, and felt that my background knowledge in this area was very limited. This made it a bit challenging to understand the poems at first, but after a bit of research, I was able to come across more information about Woeser’s personal life and her activism for Tibetan human rights. Woeser did not learn much about her Tibetan past until later in life, and realized that her father had secretly been a Buddhist. After learning more about Tibet, she began to write short stories and poems about the lives of Tibetans. Because of her work, she has been placed under house arrest and has been under close watch. 

 

“Return to Lhasa” was really interesting to read, because it showed Woeser going back home, but feeling far removed from it even though she physically there. Everything was built up to cater to Chinese tourists, and even souvenirs were made to be sold as “authentic” Tibetan products. I noticed that she used words like “huge”, “enlarged”, “imposing” when describing the new things that were built in Lhasa - possibly a sense of taking over what used to be there. 

 

She is very cynical in the beginning of the poem, and then it takes a different tone towards the end. She starts to feel nostalgic when interacting with the Tibetan people and heads into the Hall. It seems that she has a slight glimpse of hope as she stands in front of the statue, and then can’t seem to find it in her last line “I hear only a wind in the abyss.” I think her words are really powerful, and I would love to learn more about her and her work!