Nguyen Khac Hao, an eminent poet and writer from Vietnam, the Land of Blue Dragon, shares his six poems
Dr. Nguyen Khac Hao, an outstanding teacher, was born in 1955 in Minh Hoang commune, Phu Cu district, Hung Yen province of Vietnam. He is the Member of the Vietnam Writers’ Association and Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists. His main literary works published so far include 6 poetry collections and 2 other literary books. Some of his poems are selected for textbooks and many others are part of Vietnam Poem Collections. His 60 poems are selected for music. He is recipient of more than 10 main literary awards and many other awards.
Raindrops
Clouds are filled with water
The wind blew into raindrops
Then dividing it equally to the land
For grasses, trees, rivers and lakes…
Raindrops compost in the garden
To become fertility of the soil
Raindrops cover surface of the water
To be a mirror for the moon to shine.
The raindrops are so naughty
Some days no need for clouds
Suddenly it rushes down
Then goes away immediately.
***
The youngest of the family
Dad came back from a long business trip
Gift for the baby – a gentle Doll
The baby sewed a new shirt, gave it a name…
The whole day was busy, the baby forgot to cry.
Asking who is the youngest in the family
The baby said, the Doll – the youngest.
***
The moon
No rope to hang
No leg to stand
Just float in the sky
Burning itself as a light.
At Full Moon nights in August
The stars come down to play
Only the Moon stays still
Lighting up for everyone.
***
Cicadas
Sleeping all winter
One day woke up
Meeting the burning sunshine
Cicadas call summer
Startled and shouted
Summer … summer…
Hardworking Cicadas
Studying all summer
Because during the school days
Everyone goes to school
Cicadas is afraid if learning
To make noise for children.
***
The baby pretends a teacher
The baby just returned from kindergarten
To teach for Doll class at home
Dad sneaked behind to listen
Startled, the baby thought Doll was late.
***
The sun drunk wine
Yesterday mother laughed father
Face red like the sun
Father drunk a lot of wine
So embarrassed, Dad.
Going back to father’s hometown today
The sun hidden behind the bamboo
Oh the sun drunk wine
Its face is so red!
_________________
(Translated into English by Khanh Phuong)
