Work of Hai Trieu
NGUYEN ANH NONG
TWO OLD MEN
(the story of my Uncle and my Father)
Two old men with white hair,
The older told the younger:
"Tonight, just one night,
You sleep with me, right?"
The younger didn't understand
"Hey, no, I must come home!
And cook bran for the pigs!
Besides, my little grandson
He needs to sleep with me!"
After midnight, the older died.
Next day, the younger felt stunned,
And he was so regretful.
A bamboo cane in his hand was trembling.
He cried until there were no more tears.
17-1-2005
INSPIRATION WITH A STONE
Picking a stone in Chư Sê
I brought it back to Hà Nội
I feel my soul sobbing
And my heart beating softly
HUMAN-BEINGS
A human-being
a person
then turns into lots of people
The far and green outerspace is very close
A speck of dust has the shape of the mountain
A grain of rice - is the pride of the mental power
The soft wind's footsprints have the storm's spirit
The confidence trills like the sound of music
Stirring but it can't be muddied
Blending but it can't be melted
Sparkling, illusory
A human-being - the creation
Human-beings have the real magic
Like the moonlights
Like the sunlights
Like the scent of jasmines
Like the gorgeous lotuses
Like the high passes
Like the deep abysses
Like me
Like you
Like a drop of ink goes up to the fragrance.
2008
translated from the Vietnamese
by BICH NGA. NGUYEN THI.