Monday, January 5, 2026

Nhớ Bạn

Written on 9/30/24 while sitting in the lanai, sipping coffee, and thinking of my garden and my loved ones, gone or far away. 


Có con chim ruồi nhỏ
Đang nằm trong giấc mơ
Chim ơi cho ta gửi
Lời thăm yêu vườn nhà
Có cái bàn nho nhỏ
Buổi sáng uống cà phê
Nhớ đến người tri kỷ
Ngoài sân tiết dịu dàng
Có vang vọng tiếng cười
Nhớ mẹ già tóc tuyết
Hỏi lại ta nhiều lần
Ngày nào con trở về
Có nụ hồng chớm nở
Nhớ người mê hoa đỏ
Cho ta niềm hạnh phúc
Bên người buổi hoàng hôn
Có những lần tái ngộ
Ta vui cười bên nhau
Có những ngày cuối đời
Ta lưu hoài trong tim
 

The English version was written on 1/5/26


There is a little hummingbird
In a dream I had
Little Bird, carry my greeting
To the home garden of mine
There is a little table
Where I sat and drank the morning coffee
With a dear friend
In the warm breeze we shared our tales
And together we laughed with joy
I remember my white-haired mother
Asking me more than once or twice
When I’d be home again
I remember another dear friend
Who loved the beautiful red roses
From the moment they bloomed
To the time they faded away for good
When darkness fell
We gave each other comfort
I remember the many rendezvous
When we enjoyed having fun together
I remember the last days we had with each other
Forever I’ll treasure those moments with you

Twinkle in Your Eyes

This was written in October 2024 while I was in Hawaii and my mom was at home in Texas. I snapped a picture of my mom during one of our FaceTime together.


Buổi sáng thức dậy
Uống ly cà phê
Nói chuyện với Mẹ
Nhìn mắt Mẹ cười
Thật tươi



Beautiful face
Beautiful smile
Twinkle in your eyes
I admire your outlook of life
You have learned
To find happiness within
Life is not a bother
Life is kind
It gives you wonder
Even when you cry


Lược

This was written in October 2024 when my granddaughter Mochi was ten months old and I was visiting. It was written in Vietnamese. I wrote the English version today.


Ngón tay Bà làm lược
Nhẹ nhàng chải tóc tơ
Ru cháu vào giấc mộng
À ơi cháu ngủ ngon
Bà gỡ rối tóc mềm
Mầu vàng nâu tơ lụa
Mộng say cháu cứ ngủ
Má cháu hồng hây hây
Thương biết mấy cho vừa
Yêu sao quá là yêu



My fingers are the comb
To brush your fine hair
I sing you a lullaby
Go to sleep Dearest
I take away the knots
From your silky hair
Sleep well and sweet dreams
Your rosy cheeks warm my heart
Which is overflowing with love
Boundless love has no measures