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Island 102

駐足三天遷復遷
難比家居咁安然
人生何苦如斯賤
馳得勞勞口吐煙

香山人題

I have lingered here three days, moving again and again.
It is difficult to compare this to the peacefulness at home.
Life need not be so demeaning.
Rushing about so much, smoke came out of my mouth.

By someone from Heungshan

Listen to the poem in Heungshan (Shekki) ⏯

Island 101

蠻夷發令把房遷
上下奔馳氣絕然
恰似干戈人心亂
聲勢猶如走烽煙

The barbarian issued orders to change rooms.
Running up and down, my breath grew short.
It was like warfare, when people's minds are bewildered.
The scene resembled a stampede set off by beacon smoke.

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

Island 50

默默含情意黯然
吾儕同喚奈何天
幾時策馬潼關渡
許我先揚祖逖鞭

Quietly keeping my feelings to myself, I feel depressed.
My colleagues and I together call helplessly to Heaven.
When do we whip our horses to cross the pass at Tong Guan?
Let me first wave the whip of Zu Ti.

Listen to the poem in Cantonese ⏯

Island 77

尚存一息志無灰
敬勛同堂眾楚材
知恥便能將恥雪
揮戈方可免必栽
莫道無謀芟醜虜
思求有術把天回
男兒十萬橫磨劍
誓斬樓蘭闢草萊

If you have but one breath left, do not be discouraged from your purpose.
I respectfully exhort my brothers, who are all talents of Chu.
Having a sense of shame, one can eradicate shame.
Only by wielding the lance can one avoid death by the lance.
Do not say that we have not the means to level the ugly barbarians.
I am searching for a method that will turn destiny back.
One hundred thousand men sharpen their swords,
Swearing to behead the Loulan and open the grasslands and fallow fields.

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.