Our mother is far away, long gone, I waited for her all night under the descending moon
Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong, an eminent poet and writer from Vietnam, the Land of Blue Dragon, shares her poems
Poet and Writer Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong is a member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association and serves as the deputy head of the Vietnam Writers’ Association branch in Hung Yen. She is also the head of the Literature Department of the Hung Yen Literary and Artistic Association. Her hometown is Toan Thang Village, Tu Dan Commune, Khoai Chau District, Hung Yen Province, Vietnam. Her published works include: Short story collection “Childhood Memories” (2012); “The Late Afternoon Sunbeam” (2014); “A Galaxy Strip” (2017); “Late Afternoon in the Cemetery” (2020); Poetry collection “There is a Love” (2014) and Poetry collection “The Heart of the Sun” (2023). She won award on the short story collection “The Late Afternoon Sunbeam” at the 4th Pho Hien Literature Award (2011-2015). Her short story collection “Late Afternoon in the Cemetery” won the Third Prize at the 5th Pho Hien Literature Award (2016-2021).
DESCENDING MOON
Some faint shadow looked like our mother’s silhouette
Walking hurriedly on the sunbaked street
Sweat soaked her shirt, showing her skinny shoulders
Bareheaded, her hair already turned gray
Our mother hastily returned from the market
Taking care of her children’s every meal
The aroma of crab and fish once scented the alley
Now, cold ash and stove, our mother is no longer here
Our mother is far away, long gone
I waited for her all night under the descending moon
Without her, the deserted garden was full of wild weeds
The mossy yard and moldy walls brewed melancholy flowers
Today the market no longer sees our mother
The fish seller has a faraway look in her eyes
My mother is gone, only cold ash left
Who would cook the fish for us, her children!
***
THE HEART THAT LOVES
Darling!
I once said:
You are the river, I am the field
Through thousands of lifetimes, still the same
The river is rich in silt, its banks are ebbing and accreting
The field is lush with blossoms and fruits
I was desperately longing for you
Missing you endlessly
My sobbing heart loved you so much
Waves softly caressed my lips, I was thirsty for your touch
We melted into each other, our hearts were beating as one
I had loved you, loved you until I was exhausted!
But now
The river and the field
Remain, yet they separate
The river is no longer a river
My field, leaves and flowers are grieving
Our love song is abandoned halfway
Birds stop singing, flowers cease to bloom
The sky loses its blue, and white clouds no longer drift…
Nothing left, my darling!
Everything has ended!
My heart is too painful now
I am dead, dead, truly dead!!!
***
THE TREE OF HAPPINESS
Blue sky, white clouds, bright sun…
I’m pure as Blue Mountains, you’re green as vast forests
We sit beneath the shade of the bauhinia variegata tree
The scent of warm tea, the autumn overflowing with flowers
Sounds like the breeze is drifting by
As if the flowers were laughing
The laughter of people, the joyous babble of the streams
The tree of life and happiness is so lush and sweet!
***
LIFE BLOOMS
People are bustling on the streets everyday
My darling, let’s go to the mountains to plant trees and build our home
Streams babbling, birds singing melodiously
At midnight, the rooster’s crow resounds when another hour passes
Our home is laden with blossoms and fruits
The land yields sweetness and lush green vegetables
Come back with me, my darling!
Let’s sow happiness for life to bloom!
***
FOR ME, THAT’S ENOUGH
The vast sea
The windy sky
Waves crashing, longing
Sea spinach flowers are purple and blue like the memories
I sat there, sobbing and counting each falling sunbeam
My heart felt adrift…
Oh, my darling!
Please don’t be the sea
Standing on this shore, one is unable to see the other side
Don’t be the scorching sunshine in the summer
That makes the rosy cheeks of girls tan
Don’t be the full moon
For tomorrow, the moon will wane again
Don’t be clouds
Wandering with the wind drifting
And don’t be a delicate flower, my darling!
You’re just you
The man who loves me passionately…
Just that! That’s enough for me!
(Translated into English by HFT)
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