(With affection, offered to all Fathers,
especially Vietnamese Fathers,
who were detained in mountainous re-education
camps after the collapse
of the South Vietnam Government in
1975)
* I remember my native village
Surrounded by green bamboo hedges,
Ornamented with columns of white-blurring
smoke,
At nightfall, rising slowly.
* I remember the winding
village road,
On which herds of cattle
Were coming back to their stables
When the church bell was heard.
* I left my village at the
age of fourteen,
Separating from my parents and family
To go studying at Haiphong City.
When the war broke out, getting harder and
harder
I followed the elders to fight against
French aggressors.
Twice, captured by the enemies, I knew
The person, who made patiently great efforts
To find out the detention camp was my
Father.
* With the spirit of
Confucianism,
He taught me how to live with dignity
In all circumstances of life, even in
misery.
Thanks to my Father's teachings,
I've overcomed almost everything
To survive regardless lots of challenges
Occuring continuously in my rough lifetime.
* During 73 years of
living in this world,
I never forget his image and teachings
That’s helped me overcome almost everything.
Sometimes, seemingly I still hear his words:
" My son ! You ought to live with dignity! "
Always I've been proud of my Father.
When growing up. I haven't done yet
A tiny bit for him as response, unfortunately
!
San Diego, California
Phan Duc Minh
(Member of The International Society of
Poets)
Phoûng dòch:
Baøi
thô cho ngaøy “Hieàn Phuï“
(Meán taëng taát caû
nhöõng ngöôøi Cha, ñaëc bieät
laø nhöõng ngöôøi Cha
Vieät Nam ñaõ töøng
ñi tuø caûi taïo sau khi chính quyeàn
Nam Vieät Nam
xuïp ñoå naêm 1975)
Laøng xöa gôïi noãi
vaán vöông
Haøng tre xanh ngaét, lôùp
söông mòt môø.
Hoaøng hoân phuû xuoáng
nhö mô,
Khoùi lam löu luyeán vaät
vôø bay leân.
*
Nhôù sao xoùm nhoû bình
yeân,
Töøng ñaøn muïc
suùc vaãn quen loái veà
Quanh co moät neûo ñöôøng
queâ,
Chuoâng ñaâu vaêng
vaúng tieáng nghe vang reàn.
*
Ra ñi töø tuoåi thieáu
nieân,
Caùch liaø Cha meï, anh em
gia ñình,
Ra Thaønh laøm caäu hoïc
sinh,
Chieán tranh buøng noå,
thaân mình phaûi ñi,
Thaân trai gian khoå xaù
gì,
Böôùc theo huynh tröôûng,
cuõng vì nuùi soâng..
Ñoâi phen giaëc baét
cuøm goâng,
Chính Cha laën loäi, heát
loøng tìm con.
Tuoåi Cha ngaøy moät heùo
moøn,
Nhöng luoân daäy baûo:
phaûi luoân laøm ngöôøi
Soáng sao xöùng ñaùng
ôû ñôøi,
Toå Tieân, doøng doõi
maáy ñôøi Nho Gia.
*
Nhôø lôøi khuyeân
daäy cuaû Cha,
Cuoäc ñôøi chìm
noåi vöôït qua moïi ñieàu.
Gian truaân, cöïc khoå
bao nhieâu,
Vinh quang, haïnh phuùc caøng
nhieàu veà sau.
73 naêm, toùc ñaõ
baïc maàu,
Tai toâi coøn vaúng nhöõng
caâu cuaû Ngöôøi :
Laøm trai soáng ôû
treân ñôøi,
Sao cho xöùng ñaùng
laøm ngöôøi nghe con !
Toâi luoân mang giöõ
trong hoàn
Boùng hình Cha ñaõ
thöông con suoát ñôøi.
Phaàn toâi, nghó laïi
: Chao ôi !
Chöa ñeàn ñaùp
traû thì Ngöôøi coøn ñaâu
!
San Diego,California
Phaïm Ngoïc Nhieãm (phoûng
dòch)
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