A poem in Vietnamese by Thanh Tâm Tuyền
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Still you the misty moonlit meadows
Hair loose flying steeped in the dying night
Still you the forest valley’s unfurling darkness
The sound blackness blinding quick mist
Still you the river delta the summer constellation
Time shattering breathlessness
Still you the trees leaning in each turn
The excited mist staying up all night teasing the leaves
Still you the heaving chest the coveted storm
Nothing at all, the scuffling of nothingness
Still you the storm against the mountainside
The aching intangible gateway between heaven and earth
Still you the soft pervious white clouds
Stunned by its mystic reflection across the seas
Still you the sudden blooming quivering Queen of the Night
Our nightly world quietly wrapped tightly in its scent
—
VẪN EM
Vẫn em đồi trăng phơi mờ hoặc
Tóc buông giải thẫm xoá canh thâu
Vẫn em rừng lũng khuya trốt lộng
Ngút đen mắt lạc ruổi tin sương
Vẫn em đồng sông sao trời hạ
Phập phồng tan nát lượng thời gian
Vẫn em dáng cây nghiêng nẻo khuất
Sương muộn ham mê thức lá buồn
Vẫn em ngực thở vùi cơn bão
Trải niềm không, xô xát niềm không
Vẫn em trận mưa giông vách núi
Mở buốt mông lung ngõ đất trời
Vẫn em thoáng trắng mây hiền hậu
Ngẩn ngơ soi mặt biển điêu linh
Vẫn em đóa quỳnh run hoảng nở
Hương thầm choàng riết cõi đêm ta.
2-73
(Giai phẩm Văn tháng 11.1973)
Thanh Tâm Tuyền (1936-2006), real name Dư Văn Tâm, was a poet, as well as critic, editor, fiction writer, and playwright. He was born in Vinh, moved to Saigon in 1954, emigrated to the US in 1983, and died in Minnesota in 2006. (Source: Wikipedia)
Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm, the blogger, poet, and translator, was born in 1971 in Phu Nhuan, Saigon, Vietnam. The pharmacist currently lives and works in Western Sydney, Australia.
Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm 
Translating is not easy because some things just can’t easily BE translated from one language to another. You always make it look effortless. Such a beautiful poem…💕💕💕
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Thank you, uhm, I’ve been practicing daily for five years LOL.. it’s lots of fun, words in different languages are amazing.
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Your practicing shows! 💕💕💕
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heheh, thanks, I’ve been crucified more than a few times. My language skills are poor in both English and Vietnamese, the grammar at the beginning was shocking, but I love maths, I see these patterns, it seems to work out if I trust my instinct. Being a book nerd all my life really helped. The history of words, idioms and so on are all so captivating, I’m drawn to their history, origin and how they have evolved over mere decades LOL.. Sorry, I can go on and on forever.. I hope your Sunday will bring you as much joy as it had mine. Cheers. Trâm.
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I started out (a long time ago) as an English Second Language (ESL) teacher and lived in French for many years so I understand your passion 🙂 Your English is EXCELLENT by the way. I thought you’d been raised speaking both!
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Thank you, your words means everything. I’ve too busy trying to survive life in general, children, husband, poetry was something innate. I can’t believe poetry has brought me here to this very moment in both vernacular. So unexpected.
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🥰🥰🥰
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* French, not France 🤓
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sorry , fixed teach .:))
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Just such a vivid and touching piece. Your English is excellent Trâm. Thank you so very much. 🦋❤️🌹
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Thanks Joni/ Luv u
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You are welcome/Luv u 2
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