Mom and Dad, I Want to Thank Both of You 
This Christmas & forthcoming New Year
 (Dec.24,2003)

(Our youngest daughter Catherine, who is living happily with her good husband and a very cute baby daughter of 6 months, sent us recently this poem, whose author’s well-famous in Modern Poetry World, enclosed with lots of 2003’s Christmas and New Year  presents. I’d like to introduce this valuable spiritual gift to my young friends and all cordial  readers as well).

Phan Duc Minh
(Member of the Internatinal Society of Poets )

 
This seems like the perfect time of year
to tell you how much you mean to me,
and let you know that 
your constant love and support
have been the most important things in my life.
  * * *
Without the two of you,
I wouldn't be who I am;
your confidence in me
has helped me to succeed.
You have always been exactly what I needed
(even though I didn't always know it at the time).
You gave me applause when I succeeded
and shoulders to cry on when I didn't.
You gave me faith when I doubted
and courage when I was afraid.
  * * *
In every situation, 
I knew I could count on you
and that you loved me
and believed in me.
  * * *
Today, I want to thank you both
and let you know that
I appreciate everything you've done.
I will always remember
the wonderful times we've had,
and I will always and forever love you. 
 
  • Poem by Barbara Cage 
    		•
    Thöa Boá Meï, Con muoán caûm ôn Boá Meï
    nhaân dòp Giaùng Sinh vaø Naêm Môùi saép ñeán
     (24 thaùng 12-2003)

    (Con gaùi uùt cuaû chuùng toâi Catherine, ñang soáng haïnh phuùc beân ngöôøi choàng toát vaø ñöaù con gaùi nhoû 6 thaùng raát deã thöông, môùi ñaây ñaõ göûi taëng chuùng toâi baøi thô naøy, maø taùc giaû raát laø noåi tieáng trong theá giôùi Thi Ca hieän ñaïi, keøm theo nhieàu moùn quaø Giaùng Sinh 2003 cuõng nhö Naêm Môùi ñang ñeán. Toâi xin giôùi thieäu moùn quaø tinh thaàn giaù trò naøy ñeán caùc baïn treû cuaû toâi cuõng nhö toaøn theå caùc baïn ñoïc thaân meán).

    Phan Ñöùc Minh
    (Hoäi vieân Hoäi caùc nhaø Thô Quoác Teá )



      

    Hình nhö ñaây laø thôøi gian ñeïp nhaát trong naêm
    Cho con noùi ra nhöõng gì chöaù chaát trong taâm
    Ñeå Boá Meïï bieát raèng
    Tình thöông yeâu, naâng ñôõ cuaû Boá Meï maõi maõi 
                                                                   khoâng thoâi
    Laø quan troïng nhaát, giuùp con vöõng böôùc trong ñôøi. 
          Neáu khoâng coù Boá Meï sinh thaønh döôõng duïc,
    Laøm sao coù con ôû theá gian naøy !
    Loøng tin caäy, Boá Meïï daønh cho con thaät meânh moâng,
    Laøm cho con vöõng böôùc höôùng ñeán thaønh coâng.
    Luoân daønh cho con nhöõng mong muoán trong loøng
    ( Maëc daàu coù nhöõng luùc con ñaâu coù bieát ).
    Khi con thaønh coâng, Boá Meï khen ngôïi, haân hoan,
    Thaát baïi, con töïa vaøo vai cho nöôùc maét daâng traøn.
    Boá Meï cho con Nieàm Tin, khi con ngôø vöïc,
    Cho con can ñaûm, khi con sôï haõi baøng hoaøng.
          Trong moïi hoaøn caûnh,
    Con bieát  coù theå caäy troâng vaøo nôi Boá Meï,ï
    Boá Meï ñaõ yeâu thöông con
    Vaø tin caäy nôi con vôiù caû taâm hoàn.
          Hoâm nay, con muoán noùi leân lôøi caûm ôn Boá Meï
    Cuõng nhö thöa vôùi Boá Meï:
    Con ghi nhaän moïi ñieàu Boá Meï ñaõ laøm cho con,
    Con seõ luoân luoân giöõ maõi trong hoàn
    Nhöõng khoaûnh khaéc tuyeät vôøi gia ñình ta ñaõ coù,
    Tình yeâu cuaû Boá Meï seõ coøn maõi maõi trong con.
     
  • Thô cuaû Barbara Cage
    •  (Phoûng dòch ra Thô Vieät : Phan Ñöùc Minh)