Poems by Vu Trong Thai from Vietnam
His biography:
Poet Vu Trong Thai was born in 1955, in Haiphong city, Vietnam. Member of Hai Phong Literature and Art Association. He has published 9 books of poems, live stories. He won 4 literary Prizes in Vietnam.
His poems:
Afternoon of Lang land
Afternoon slowly fell down the mountain town
Clouds spread across the top of Chop Chai
KyLua Market had no longer people around
The sound of “Hey Nhi…”, held someone’s footsteps*
Golden sunset on the water surface
KyCung River quietly flowed
I returned to Lang in the afternoon
Somewhere had the scent of incense
To Thi despite thousands of years of petrification
Still held the baby, watched the sky from far away
UcTrai followed father to the North
Which tears for the debt and enemies of the country?**
Afternoon at the end of year, I sat back and remembered
Stories of the past and today
One more time back to Lang
Sent love to this land.
*”HeyNhisloonghao…”: The lyrics of the Sli song of the Nung Phan Sinh people in Lang Son. In each KyLua market before, Nung boys and girls often went to the market and sang love song on every street corner, created a unique culture in Lang Son.
**Nguyen Trai followed his father, Nguyen Phi Khanh, was captured by the Ming invaders, and went up to the North pass (Muc Nam Quan). Listened to what his father say, he wiped away his tears and returned to think about how to repay the debt and enemies of the country.
Baby Na acted as a doctor
(For dearest Na)
Baby Na played the role of a doctor
How powerful she looked
Sit seriously on the chair
She wore on the stethoscope.
Patients were all lined up
In order, not jostled each other
One by one
Now, the medical examination began.
What is wrong with you, Bear
I have a sore throat
Ah, yes, you have caught a cold
Drink honey, it will cure immediately.
And what about you, lovely stuffed puppy
Why do you look so sad
I left my mother since I was little
So I am crave for Vinamilk.
Doctor Na prescribed
Two boxes of Vinamilk
Every day when going to class
You must be sure to drink evenly.
Sweet Doraemon
Why do you have to see the doctor?
I’m having a headache
It feels so dizzy.
So from now on
If you don’t want to be scolded by mother
When you go out in the sun
Remember to wear a hat.
The examination was long over
Everyone stayed
All were having fun
Played with doctor Na.
April, 2nd 2021
The sound of bronze trumpet
(Dear Bronze Trumpet Band OefeningenUitspanning)
There was an evening in Spring
The sound of bronze trumpet echoed in Port Street*
Those shimmered melodies
Colorful fields at Uat Kim Huong.
Strange mysterious sounds
Of the band in the river Maas
“Fly, fly, fly… like the endless Spring”**
Beside the Forbidden River at high tide.
When the conductor spent a second of silence
Command wand turned into magic wand
I suddenly saw a stormy sky
A gentle song, a soft song.
Those artists that I couldn’t know their names yet
Different languages, many unknowns
The bronze trumpet sound was a close bridge
We became brothers as if we had been a long time.
Hai Phong – WijkenAalburg was so far away
Today was no longer distance
Pink phoenix wings with tulips***
Blossomed in this morning.
11:55PM, night October 12nd, 2021
*Bronze Trumpet Band OefeningenUitspanning (Netherlands) performed at the Opera House, on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam - Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association, Hai Phong city.
** Adapted from the poem “Vietnamese posture” by Le Anh Xuan.
***Symbol of Vietnam – Netherlands Friendship & Cooperation Association, Hai Phong city.
Cu Bi entered first grade
(Dearest Cu Bi)
Cu Bi entered first grade
The whole family also learned
Mother brought a backpack to wear
Father brought new books.
Grandfather volunteered to wait
Picked up the baby after school
Grandmother took a good care
Cooked a delicious meal for him.
So was auntie Trang
Gifted brand new clothes
And a pretty hat
To kept him away from the sun and rain.
The puppy was also nervous
Ran around as encouragement
First day went to class
When he entered first grade.
04:55PM, July 28th, 2018
Emotions from a photo
(Dear Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Xuan Duong – VMU Principal; Chairman of VNFCA Hai Phong)
Red gloves
Red flag on chest
I also saw another red
From your heart in a “Pink Sunday”.
Just quietly hid in the crowd
You gave away red blood
How many times, I couldn’t remember
Silently hoped for revival.
I had seen your enthusiasm
Interesting moment in class time
Career story with so many dreams
Released your soul to a life of blue sea.
I also knew it always dry and sunny in the summer
Sweat was still roll down on your cheeks
The practice floor was wobbly
The traditional martial arts, you were so passionate…
Yes, the page of life was not the page of poetry
Like a ship in the middle of the ocean
Quietly in the vast ocean
In the distance, there was a glimpse of the shore.
October 14th, 2021
*VMU: Vietnam Maritime University
*VNFCA: Vietnam – Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association, Hai Phong city
(Translated from Vietnamese into English by JyKhanh)
