Collage#40

Childhood in summer

Gives us so many offers

Such as watching a sunset

Under an orange sky

Or being read to

While snuggling up close

Or going down a slide

Holding on to each other

Or helping Milli

Get out of the pool

After she did a great job

In her own swim sessions with Miss Cathy

Or gobbling up a giant

Dish of sushi

When I was so hungry

At Imperial Palace

To celebrate

The end of my swim season

Or kissing Allison

Who’s Mother’s cousin

Or splashing around

In the cool water

Of the swimming pool

Of Ocean Vista

In North Carolina

With third cousins

Coming from Virginia

Arms around each other we strolled

Down the path to the bay in Corolla

While reminding Mother

To be nice to her own

At the beach we buried ourselves

While Milli played in the sand

Laughing like we’d been friends

Since before time began

We had so much fun

That I even forgot

To ask Bà to read me

Her many children’s ebooks

She’d loaded on her iPad

Just for me

But at Mother’s insistence

And the lure of a candy prize

It’s not hard to see why

I did not neglect

My swimming practices

With Coach Ông’s help

I hope the rest of the summer

Will go swimmingly well

As the time we had

In North Carolina

Neighbor

We went out to get the mail
From her house our neighbor leisurely appeared
Broadly she smiled and fondly she waved
“Ah yes, didn’t I tell you, they do like us here!"



Translated from


Láng Giềng
Rủ nhau ra ngõ lấy thư
Gặp bà hàng xóm từ từ bước ra
Bà cười bà vẫy thiết tha
"Ở đây, đã bảo, người ta thích mình!"

by Nguyễn phú Long

Collage #39

We are the world

We are the future

Today we play

Tomorrow we’ll deliver

Love us tender

Watch us grow

We are a promise

Of good things to come

Keep us safe

Give us the future

She & He

She was from a mythical place
Carefree, coquettish, alluring, bewitching
He was like a butterfly awaiting
Fluttering with joy on the path she’s descending
He was from the war afar
Looking for a place of his own to rest
By wondrous happenstance they’ve met

Translated from 
Nàng & Chàng
by Nguyễn Phú Long

Nàng từ huyền thọai tới đây

Nhởn nhơ, điệu bộ, ngất ngây, lòng vòng.

Chàng như cái bướm chờ mong

Gặp rồi vui quá phải lòng nhau chơi!

Chàng từ chinh chiến xa vời

Ngược xuôi như thể tìm nơi đi về.

Dừng chân, kỳ ngộ, vui ghê!

Trời xui hai đứa hẹn thề yêu nhau.

A Weekend Poem

Clouds hung over meadows of lush trees and grass

Where promises were made, and hopes would not die

Music followed you when you went afar

My heart rejoiced at the gift of your return

I gave thanks to the rhythm of time passing by 

Weaving through the lyrics of songs and odes

There you were… decked out in beautiful garments

Softly flowers danced in your arms as you sang a song of friendship

May from this day forward and forevermore

The fun never stop even when silver our hair has turned.

Translated from 

Lục Bát Cuối Tuần 

                  Nguyễn Phú Long

.                          Thân tặng Thái Phượng

Cỏ cây mây nước lững lờ

Mà người hò hẹn, mong chờ gần xa

Em đi ríu rít câu ca

Em về như thể chút quà thân thương.

Cám ơn ngày tháng bình thường

Để thơ với nhạc tơ vương miệt mài

Áo khăn xúng xính kìa ai...

Cầm bông hoa đẹp hát bài "Gặp Nhau"

Ước gì cho đến mai sau

Bao giờ tới lúc bạc đầu vẫn vui.

Collage 38

As surely as time is marching on
We grow and learn and change along
Our experience expands in time and space
Enriching us in myriad ways
From the cozy comfort of our home
We traveled far to Paradise the Gathering Place 
We frolicked in the very same ocean that we crossed
Eyeing the beautiful colors of turquoise, blue, and green
We took the boat to where the water ain’t deep
Then we walked barefoot to the coral reefs
And watched the yellow fishes lurk underneath
On the sandbars the water came to our knees
We breathed the ocean air and tasted the salt on our lips
We hiked the Kaena Point Trail to seek out the seals
But caught the albatross’ mating dance instead
We saw a man make fire and twirl it around on a stick
Then he was kind to give us each a crown made with flowers and a leaf
At the Bishop Museum we witnessed how lava was made
That was almost as exciting as when Ariel could walk on her legs
At Cirque de la Symphonie we saw people hang in the air
And gracefully glide on the ropes while music appeared
We saved Aulani Disney Resort for last
Where we went down the water slides and lay on the rafts
When the cool air made us feel a bit chilly
We left the Lazy River for the warmth of a hot tub
We miss many things our fun-filled week had brought us
Including the tasty foods and the nail polishing sessions
But most of all we treasure the time we got
To spend with loved ones and keep our memories connected

Collage 37

Watch me I have grown

No longer a baby am I

I’m such a handsome fella

So I was told by Mama

I enjoy being outdoors

When the weather allows it

On the bike of fire red color

With the dragon helmet firm on my head

I set out to explore the world

Which inspires

To see things that fascinate

To do things that challenge 

To touch things that beautify

To let my imagination run wild

Under the sky I kiss my sister

And make her swing go higher

I hold her tight when she needs it

And set her free if she hollers

I let her wear my swimming cap

If that makes her a happy girl

When we are at home on the cozy bed

We want to hear the stories read

I leave behind my own adventures

To enter a world of imaginative wonders

Watch me I have grown

I am still a little baby

A sweetheart of many

I’m sure Dada has said that

I like to tag along

My big brother – but don’t let him know it

When he rides his fire red bike

With the dragon helmet firm on his head

I set out to explore the world

Which inspires

To see things that fascinate

To do things that challenge 

To touch things that beautify

To let my imagination run wild

Under the sky I am kissed

Someone always pushes my swing higher

Sometimes when I don’t like to be held

I holler to break free

To go sit by myself on a step

To eat an apple or to wear a swim cap

But when we are at home on the cozy bed

And want to hear the stories read

I don’t want to be all alone 

For sleep when it comes will be extra sweet