乙酉仲夏五月十七日

《My Fifty-sixth Birthday》Chen Yin Ke

去年病目實已死  My eyes blinded last year a dead man was I
雖號為人與鬼同  Living as man I was in ghostly sight
可笑家人作生日  I laughed when my family held a birthday party for me
宛如設祭奠亡翁  As if an oblate act to enliven an old dead man to be

鬼鄉人世兩傷情  Both ghostly and human homes care for feelings
萬古書蟲有嘆聲  Since antiquity book worms exaggerate moans of acrimony
淚眼已枯心已碎  My tearless eyes dry and my heart broken in pieces
莫將文字誤他生  I will not allow my writings to mislead future generations

女癡妻病自堪憐  My daughter in stress my wife sick what a pity
況更流離歷歲年  Years of fleeing and separation have hurt us deeply
願得時清目復朗  How I wish peace comes and my sight is back with me
扶攜同泛峽江船  We will hold hands to sail home together a family