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Island 130

假道呂宋走花旗
關情嚴密不知機
監牢木屋囚困日
波斯鐵船被撥期

窮途阮籍誰憐哭
絕域李陵空嘆愁
無可奈何事制厄
命蹇時乖受此磨

I entered the land of the Flowery Flag by way of Lüsong.
Conditions at the border were strict, and I was not clever.
In the wooden jail, I was imprisoned for days.
Now I am to be deported in the steel vessel Persia.

When Ruan Ji reached the end of the road, who took pity on his weeping
In a distant land, Li Ling sadly sighed in vain.
There is nothing that can be done about misfortune caused by tyranny.
Fate is unlucky and times are perverse; therefore, I suffer these ordeals.

Listen to the poem in Cantonese ⏯

Island 129

路遠行人萬里難
勸君切勿來偷關
艱險情形堪莫問
斯言不是作為閒

民國十二年

The road is far for the traveler; ten thousand li are difficult.
May I advise you not to sneak across the border?
The difficult and dangerous conditions are not worth your inquiries.
These are not idle words.

Twelfth year of the Republic

Listen to the poem in Toishanese ⏯

Island 34

埃崙此地為仙島
山野原來是監牢
既望張網焉投入
祇為囊空莫奈何

This place is called an island of immortals,
When, in fact, this mountain wilderness is a prison.
Once you see the open net, why throw yourself in?
It is only because of empty pockets I can do nothing else.

Listen to the poem in Toishanese ⏯

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.