Mother carrying dreams – Poetry from Vietnam
Poet PHAN HOANG from Vietnam, the land of Blue Dragons, shares his three poems
Baby cried
Stronger than
Cannon roar
The streets were mottled with black holes
Blood red floating rivers and streams
The sea screamed, layers of waves breaking away from mother
[author title=”PHAN HOANG ” image=”https://sindhcourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Poet-Phan-Hoang-Vietnam.jpg”]Phan Hoang, journalist, poet and a teacher of creative writing, was born on October 10th, 1967 in Phu Yen, a central coastal province of Vietnam. Formerly Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association, Chairman of Poetry Council (2015-2020), is currently member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, Editor in chief of Vanvn.vn – The voice of Vietnam Writers’ Association. He has published 15 books, including 4 volumes of poetry and epics and got many literary and press awards.[/author]
Mother carrying dreams
Carrying things on her shoulder, Mother ran
Squeakily and hurriedly
People falling behind
People bowing in front
My childhood was on the evacuation basket
Mother carried the dreams of running through the chaotic season
Baby cried
Stronger than
Cannon roar
The streets were mottled with black holes
Blood red floating rivers and streams
The sea screamed, layers of waves breaking away from mother
Mother’s steps against the southern wind
Softly glided over the undulating rocks on the mountainside
Detoxified jungles struggling with Agent Orange
Comforting the fields with weeds
Bare feet of bamboo roots with bloody
The wind basket lost its breath
Mother put her child to sit under the burnt-out bomb hole
Looked back at the ruined village and grandparents’ graves
Put the hat down to fan the bomb smell
Mom’s shadow covered the bullets’ range
Cuddled a crying mother
Babbled mother and daughter laughing
Baby smiled
Stronger than
Cannon roar
A smile planted in the mother’s heart the seed of hope
Peaceful village after the next seasons…
***
Spring Bud
Every smile of her child
A Spring Bud
From the blood of mother and father, bloomed blue
Ignited the hope
Dispelled the cold winter
Dreamed the hope star
Spread hope to the horizons
Every Spring Bud
Sparkling smile
Dawn child lips
Mountains can be fake
River can be fake
Sea of life can also be hypocritical
Is Spring Bud always green and impermanent?
***
Children’ song against the wind
Without wind, there is no water
Without water, there is no river
Without river, there is no rice field
Without rice field, there is no farm
Without farm, there is no rice
Without rice, there is no me!
– I’m back with rice
The rice returns to the farm
The farm returns to the field
The field returns to the river
The river returns to water
The water returns to the wind
The wind returns to me!
Buffalo’s back sinks seven floats three
Children’s song against the wind drifting out… of life
Miss home and games
The echoing old river, the laughter of buffalo’s back
The innocent children’ river, the hard rain and sun
Connecting loves by children’ song!
________________
