(Cordially offered to my young friends,
comrades-in-arms,
former officers in the armed forces of
the Republic of Vietnam,
actually settling overseas).
*
I never forget my small
village
Lying on the left bank of the Red River
Well known by lots of countries
Because of its width, length and red water.
Since my far-away childhood,
I've been proud of the Red River
Well famous as a strategic point
On account of the warlike feats of my ancestors.
When being a little
schoolboy,
I had known already how to be excited in every
class of history.
I felt that I was being myself a warrior
Coming back after my ancestors' glorious victory.
How brilliant is my
people's history !
With numerous grandiose battles and victories
Occurring on the famous Red River
During Dinh, Le, Ly, Tran dynasties.
Lying on the left bank
of the Red River,
My native village will never be forgotten from
my heart
Despite a pertinacious war and separation.
The church steeple was the image easiest to
remember.
Lying on the left bank
of the Red River,
My little village has become poorer and poorer
Due to decades of cruel domination
Created by my fatherland's betrayers.
Historical events were forcefully justified
By the masses of Thai-Binh, Dong-Nai and Xuan-
Loc's insurrections…
From the other side
of the Pacific Ocean,
I'd like to send my compatriots all my heart
With swears firmly trenchant :
I'll go back home to see again the Red River,
Always keeping its name brilliant for ever.
*
San Diego, California
Phan Duc Minh
(Member of The International Society of Poets)
Doøng
Soâng Oanh Lieät
(Thaân meán taëng caùc
baïn treû, chieán höõu,
cöïu Só Quan Quaân
Löïc Vieät Nam Coäng Hoa
cuûa toâiø, hieän
ñang ñònh cö nôi haûi ngoaïi
)..
*
Queâ laøng
toâi beù nhoû,
Naèm beân taû ngaïn
soâng Hoàng,
Ai cuõng bieát teân cuaû
doøng soâng ñoù,
Ñaõ daøi laïi roäng,
nöôùc ñoû meânh moâng.
Luùc coøn
beù nhoû ngaây thô,
Toâi ñaõ thaáy tim
kieâu duõng voâ bôø
Veà moät ñòa danh
saùng ngôøi ñaát nöôùc
Baèng nhöõng chieán
coâng Tieân Toå xa xöa.
Khi coøn laø
caäu beù hoïc sinh,
Toâi ñaõ thaáy haøo
huøng hoïc giôø lòch söû,
Vaø thaáy nhö mình
laø ngöôøi chieán só
Mang veà chieán tích Tieân
Toå quang vinh.
Oanh lieät thay
lòch söû nöôùc toâi !
Vôùi nhöõng chieán
coâng lôû ñaát, long trôøi
Dieãn ra treân chính doøng
soâng lòch söû
Ñinh, Lyù, Traàn, Leâ…
anh duõng bao ñôøi.
Naèm treân
taû ngaïn doøng soâng nöôùc ñoû,
Xoùm laøng toâi maõi
maõi muoân ñôøi coøn ñoù.
Ngoïn thaùp giaùo ñöôøng
coøn maõi trong toâi,
Daãu cho maáy chuïc naêm
trôøi chieán tranh, caùch trôû.
Naèm beân
taû ngaïn soâng Hoàng,
Laøng toâi ngaøy moät
ngheøo xaùc ngheøo sô,
Maáy chuïc naêm qua khoán
khoå voâ bôø,
Bôûi luõ ngöôøi
taøn baïo, phaûn boäi non soâng,
Ñaát nöôùc xa
xoâi huøng hoàn chöùng minh ñieàu
ñoù:
Thaùi Bình, Ñoàng
Nai, Xuaân Loäc…
Vuøng leân noåi daäy,
phaûi ñoù hay khoâng ?
Beân ñaây
bôø Thaùi Bình Döông,
Höôùng veà ñoàng
baøo, Toå Quoác ñau thöông,
Xin nguyeän trong loøng : ngaøy
mai trôû laïi !
Toâi seõ veà queâ
xöa nhìn laïi Soâng Hoàng,
Con soâng maõi maõi muoân
ñôøi löøng laãy chieán coâng.
*
San Diego, California
Phaïm Ngoïc Nhieãm (Phoûng
dòch)
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