Friday, April 17, 2015

Collage 21

I am
Under the blue sky
Everything is bright
Don’t you stay inside
If you are alive
Unless you’re to swim
In a cool Y pool
Or to see Grandpa
Being sick afar
Or to jump with glee
On the bed made prettily
With a quilt laid out nicely
By Mama who loves fineries
Otherwise come out
Give the world a shout
Join with me to show
People how to crow
Don’t hesitate awhile
But wield a big smile
Give the world your all
Did you hear its call
For you to respond
Let’s go fly a kite
Anywhere is fine
As long as you’re kind
A park should be great
If you’re under eight
Feet high, I meant to say
There are many ways
To be merry in plays
Bring a friend and stay
Sit low on a wagon
Sit high on a swing
Check out the park benches
The merry-go-rounds, too
Give Mama a ride
On your tiny trike
Let’s cook up a storm
Make sure you’re fed
Lick an ice cream cone
Share it when you’re not alone
Let the wind blow wild
But hold on to your hat
Lest the wind take it
Far away from you
When the day is done
You may need to rest
And not chase after a hat
While the wind is laughing
At you.


Thursday, April 2, 2015

White Coral Vine - Hoa Ti Gôn

This poem is written for my dear friend Lan Cung whose story inspired it, both in English and in Vietnamese.

Mến tặng Cung Lan
Diệm Trân

White Coral Vine
March 2015

The white coral vine I picked just for you
Whose opening blossoms speak well of my love
Stirs in me something I’ve never known before
My heart sings while I wait for and dream of you

My yearnings lie in the minutes ticking by
My feelings weave a poem to you I must write
In your dreams I have come to tend to your health
Like a fool burning with desires I wait till you wake again

The white coral vine blossoms are so beautiful
I am so moved by the attention I’ve received
If the path had been paved for you and me together
My icy heart would have surely melted just for you

I hope your chosen path will bring you much joy
The coral vine will always stay pure and white in my mind
One day if we will ever happen to be face to face
Smile at me while I fondly remember the time we’d shared


Hoa Ti Gôn
Tháng 2 năm 2015

Ti gôn trắng muốn cài lên tóc mượt
Hái tặng em sao em lại hững hờ
Tình mới hé như ti gôn chớm nở
Anh ước mơ trong giây phút đợi chờ

Tình gói ghém mong tim em rung động
Thương em nhiều anh muốn viết thành thơ
Anh đến bên em trong giấc ngủ mơ
Đợi em tỉnh anh như kẻ dại khờ

Này anh hỡi hoa ti gôn tuyệt đẹp
Cảm động tấm lòng âu yếm trong hoa
Nếu duyên số đã bày tên hai đứa
Thì đã đâu còn băng giá tim em

Mong anh vui trong con đường anh chọn
Hoa ti gôn sẽ trắng mãi trong thơ
Nếu ngày nao ta có gặp lại nhau
Xin trao nụ cười nhớ kỷ niệm xưa