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Island 79

同病相憐如一身
恰似仲尼困在陳
私維君子仗義力
足戮胡奴弗讓仁

辛和

We are as one, fellow sufferers with mutual sympathy.
Just like Confucius when he was surrounded in the state of Chen.
Secretly, I praise your reliance on the strength of righteousness
To trample the barbarians, rather than letting others do it.

By Sun, using the same rhyme words as another poem

Listen to the poem in Cantonese ⏯

Island 78

埃屋三椽聊保身
崙麓積愫不堪陳
待得飛騰順遂日
剷除關稅不論仁

香山人題

The low building with three beams merely shelters the body.
It is unbearable to relate the stories accumulated on the Island slopes.
Wait till the day I become successful and fulfill my wish!
I will show no mercy when I level the immigration station!

By one from Toishan

Listen to the poem in Toishanese ⏯

Island 55

來到木屋十日餘
眼見有人授回去
令人見景亦生悲
耗費金錢五千餘
孤身飄流到此處
不幸撥回父母悲
哥的利息重重疊
未知何日還清主

I have been in the wooden building for more than ten days.
My eyes have seen people being sent back.
Witnessing that scene makes one sad.
Spending more than five thousand golden coins,
I drifted alone to this place.
If I am unlucky enough to be deported, my parents will be grieved.
The interest piles one on top of another.
I do not know yet when it will be completely repaid to the creditor.

Listen to the poem in Cantonese ⏯

Translations:
Lai, H. Mark, Genny Lim, and Judy Yung, eds. Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910-1940. Second edition. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2014.