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THE WRITERS POST (ISSN: 1527-5467) VOLUME 7 NUMBER 2 JUL 2005
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THANH
THANH __________________________________ three poems by
THANH THANH translated by the author REFLECTIONS
I have heard palaver, over
historic issues ranged, Such as, “If Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter, The whole face of the world would have changed!” But who asked “How?” would be a blabber aborter! I have heard of legitimate possessions justification Quoting, “Render unto Caesar the Caesar’s things!” But people are unaware of such self-devastation, For Jesus added, “Unto God the Heavenly King’s”! I have heard the priests against incest preach (Such kind of beauty cream would only hide blister) But how could be born of Adam’s descendants each If Cain had not had intercourse with his own sister? I have experienced the Marxist-Maoist illogicality; They force you to accept and believe their beliefs: A classless society but for the proletariat partiality And a stateless world but under communist chiefs! So, I do acclaim and support any good success And do further accept theoretically good intentions But never extol and thank what is utopian guess: Man at these times only needs realistic inventions. TO YOSEMITE THINKING BACK TO VIETNAM
to Duy Nang To
visit picturesque Yosemite, here I came Just
by becoming an exile being affected; I
looked at this scenery of universal fame Upon
which from my heart I sadly reflected. Oh,
this land in this corner of plain mirth Over
this far-away Pacific Ocean shore! Any
unusual things in the entrails of the earth That send my sobbing soul
sinking in sore? How
great mountains and rivers: this version! But,
why is it to differ from this glitter So
that suddenly I felt on a mere excursion A
confusing mixture of blithe and bitter? My
native home Nature had favored its flag Nearly
five thousand years to fly in its domain. Alas!
Who began to render it a tattered rag? Its
subjects scattered, sulking, suffering pain! People
have flocked to Yosemite here, Each
a contentment receiver and a peace giver. Plants
and trees, birds and beasts: clear sphere; No cause
to worry, fear, hesitate, shiver. You
may express to one another each view: No
police cordons on your way, the heavy load. Everybody
would stop and wait as due For
the tiny squirrel carefree to cross the road. Night
after night your sleep comes securely, All
right for you, honey, and for me too. Life
is wide and smooth like dreams to surely Increase
sounds and colors all the time through. One
nurtures of happiness a good sense Obviously
on his or her own face to tomorrow. His
talk and her smile need not be a pretense; Your
foreheads are not furrowed by sorrow. Although
for a brief moment here I came, I
did bear a grief for my old nation’s sake. Such
high sky and deep waters are the same, But
just pondering over it makes my heart ache. No
difference, yet why in this strange world Life
has incessantly offered its open arms While
my left-behind Vietnam is swirled Down
into misery by the evil that only harms. Well, Yosemite! I have already come here, This beautiful site, from such a dark
chapter. I think back to my former country dear And crave for a near future filled with
rapture. I HAVE LEFT BEHIND
I have left my children
to save my own hide While I could not have
prepared them for life With their kids nobody
knows what would betide To their future and
towards which how to strive. I have left my property
that from sweat flowed, But the thugs
appropriated and refused to return. They claimed over my
body, the debt never owed And the sharp practices
they forced me to learn. I have left my poor
people unfortunate and unable, Wiped out of
intelligence and wise scrutinies, In a war-torn country
which the traitors disable, Squandering resources
and missing opportunities. I have left behind my
past but not for it to pass Because I never forget
or deny its persistence. To head for a better
tomorrow I have to amass All experiences that
are part of my existence. I have left them for
this land of promises full And advantageous for my
dreams to come true, Not only to free
myself, out of misery to pull, But also to claim for
my compatriots their due. THANH THANH
The Writers Post &
literature-in-translation, founded
1999, based in the US. Editorial
note: Works
published in this issue are simultaneously published in the printed Wordbridge magazine (ISSN: 1540-1723). Copyright
© Thanh
Thanh 2005.
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