What do you hear in the scent of March? When the scent merges with the wind, Red bombax ceiba flower petals are all over the sky
Thanh Thuong, a poetess from Vietnam, the Land of Blue Dragon, shares her poetry
Nguyen Thanh Thuong, born on May 11, 1968, is a Teacher, and a Poet. She lives in Hanoi, Vietnam. Many of her poems have been printed and published in newspapers and in literary magazines. She is Vice President of Vietnam Poetry Club.
THE SCENT AND COLOR OF MARCH
What do you hear in the scent of March?
When the scent merges with the wind
Red bombax ceiba flower petals are all over the sky
Pinky white clouds covering the grass nearby.
What do you hear in the scent of March?
Virgin white grapefruit petals and nostalgia
That scent permeates every breath
Missing you since a very long time ago
What do you hear in the scent of March?
Purple flowers from the bead trees fall and blend with the grass
My shoes unintentionally led to a small path
Touched my memories and I missed our past days and months.
Oh, the month of March burns forever inside me
I always recall our memories
Oh my love! You used to be in wartime
Now you return to the scent of March again!
***
ROSES AND CHOCOLATES
Roses and Chocolates Day
As usual, you brought me your gifts
A thousand times better than expected
It’s the beautiful scent of passionate love.
By the lake, full of early morning dews
Holding each other’s hands tight, we were walking together
Looking at some pair of swans
When did they commit to being a couple?
I pointed at something in the distance
You saw that there were the twin towers
They were always stable in spite of the wind
Just like our unshakeable love.
A million roses bloomed, romantic and beautiful
Valentine’s Day and many other days
It will forever be our burning love
Standing tall like the twin towers eternally!
***
BIRTHDAY PRESENTS
Today is my birthday
Roses and chocolates are your presents
My poem praises our love
Written in loving purple ink just like at school
Your heart is full of love and gratitude
You bring about the shimmering sky and beautiful earth
Passionate, loving, deserted
Writing in haste just like in the military, under the moonlight.
The hesitant purple hue of crape myrtle flowers
Faithfully waiting for my love on the side of the road
Cicadas envy my rosy cheeks
They induce flamboyant flowers in bright red bloom.
Enthralled, I’m beaming
Sweet radiant sun rays looking at me
Oh our poetic love!
My diary, how many pages about you.
Our love is beautiful like a painting
Let the pink wind, white clouds, and the blue sky be our background!
(Translated into English by Tran Quynh Hoa)
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Read: Love songs from the land of Longans – Poetry from Vietnam
