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Island 116

李宅人員把身抽
季夏乘船到美洲
海過舟灣候上岸
紀錄無辜困木樓
念及事情心厭悶
詩章題首解愁憂
目下未曾批消案
錄記情由實可嬲
在坐虛延長歲月
此處如籠一隻鳩

華僑鐵城山僧題贈

A member of the Lee household was ready to leave.
In the last month of summer, I arrived in America on a ship.
After crossing the ocean, the ship docked, and I waited to go on shore.
Because of the records, the innocent was imprisoned in a wooden building.
Reflecting on the event, my heart is vexed and depressed.
I composed a poem to rid myself of sadness and worry.
At present, my application for admission has not yet been dismissed.
As I record the cause of my situation, it really provokes my anger.
Sitting here, uselessly delayed for long years and months,
I am like a pigeon in a cage.

Composed as a gift by an overseas Chinese,
a mountain monk from the Town of Iron

Listen to the poem in Heungshan (Shekki, Long Du) ⏯

Island 117

林到美洲
逮入木樓
成為囚犯
來此一秋
美人不准
批授回頭
消息報告
回國驚憂
國弱華人
嘆不自由

鐵城道人題

Lim, upon arriving in America,
Was arrested, put in the wooden building,
And made a prisoner.
I have already been here for one autumn.
The Americans refused me admission.
I was ordered to be deported.
When the news was told,
I was frightened and troubled about returning to my country.
We Chinese of a weak nation
Can only sigh at the lack of freedom.

Written by a Taoist from the Town of Iron

Listen to the poem in Heungshan (Shekki, Long Du) ⏯

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.