Comes summer | Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

A poem for kids in Vietnamese by Nguyễn Lãm Thắng
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

The birds are giddy
Singing in the field
Did you know
Summer is near

The wind will be here
Bringing the humidity
Blooming galas
Of royal poincianas

The clear waters
Running rivers
Ferries from distant skies
Kaleidoscopes of butterflies

Gliding kites
Under and over the meadows
What a show!
Comes summer!
—
June 2023

Hè về

Đàn chim se sẻ
Hót trên cánh đồng
Bạn ơi biết không
Hè về rồi đó

Chiều nay bạn gió
Mang nồm về đây
Ôi mới đẹp thay!
Phượng hồng mở mắt

Dòng sông trong vắt
Trườn lên bãi xa
Một chuyến đò qua
Mang theo lũ bướm

Cánh diều bay lượn
Thênh thang lúa đồng
Bạn ơi thích không?
Hè về rồi đó!

Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

Born August 14th, 1973, writes under many pseudonyms: Nguyễn Lãm Thắng, Lam Thuỵ, Trà Thị Kim Xuyến and as a children’s author: Nguyễn Trần Bảo Nghi, Du Lãm, Nhật Quang, Nguyễn Trần Khải Tú…

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.

The rooster’s ripped red comb | Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

A poem for kids in Vietnamese by Nguyễn Lãm Thắng
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

horse. Photography by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

The rooster’s ripped red comb

Boasting: – “no one is as strong as me”
Its beak stuck up in the air for all to see

In the middle of the yard
Amongst the chicks without regard

Pup dozing off under the persimmon tree
Peck on by the rooster with glee

So proud his head is like a balloon
Tonight he’ll sleep on the hedges under the moon

The hungry fox in the middle of the night
Happen upon rooster takes a bite

Lucky pup came running
And barking

The fox bite is short
Runs away with a startled snort
—
May 2023

Chiếc mào sứt

Khoe rằng: – “Ai khoẻ bằng ta”
Chú gà trống tía tỏ ra ngạo đời

Gà ta chạy xuống sân phơi
Ví đàn gà nhỏ… ra oai anh hùng

Cún con nằm dưới gốc hồng
Cũng bị gà tía đá tung lộn nhào

Nghĩ mình là bậc anh hào
Nên đêm nay ngủ trên rào đón trăng

Nào ngờ lão cáo hung hăng
Nửa khuya đói bụng đi săn tìm mồi

Gặp gà trống, cáo tức thời
Đem nanh vuốt chộp vào nơi đầu gà

Ai ngờ cún vội chạy ra
Sủa oang oang… làm cáo ta hoảng hồn.

Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

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.

Storm | Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

A poem for kids in Vietnamese by Nguyễn Lãm Thắng
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Storm

Not a leg to stand on
But always in a rush
Like sharks
Across the sea

Not a hand to hold
But could make a tree fall
With jaws like a tiger
Tearing up the country side

Always in a rush
Together with the flood
Rushing and howling
There at the village gate

Triggering the village alarm:
– Quick, here comes the storm!
—
May 2023

Bão

Không một bàn chân
Mà đi rất gấp
Như loài cá mập
Quẫy sóng biển khơi

Không một bàn tay
Mà xô cây đổ
Như nanh vuốt hổ
Bấu toạt đồi xanh

Bão đi rất nhanh
Rủ theo thằng lũ
Vừa chạy vừa hú
Bão sắp vào làng

Dậy tiếng loa vang:
– Mau mau chống bão!

Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

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.

Thì tôi tập đánh vần | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Thì tôi tập đánh vần
Tôi tập đánh vần làm thơ
Tập đánh vần làm thơ chi cơ
Đánh vần làm thơ chỉ cớ phá
Vần làm thơ chỉ cớ phá em
Làm thơ chỉ cớ phá em trên núi
Thơ chỉ cớ phá em trên núi?

Thì là núi Chư Mang!

Thơ tặng Y Thiện trên núi Chư Mang!
_____

Yep, I’m learning to spell
I’m learning to spell to write poetry
learning to spell to write poetry to just tease
to spell to write poetry to just tease a boy
to write poetry to just tease a boy on a mountain
poetry to just tease a boy on a mountain?

Yep, Mount Chư Mang!

Poems for Y Thiện on Mount Chư Mang!

_____
August 2019

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.

forty days and forty nights | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

“Who taught thee how to make me love thee more,

The more I hear and see just cause of hate?”

Within my constraints and what remains of my self-respect I am silent. How fickle is my love. I am dishevelled and alone. My mind is a maze of such thoughts, it has always been.

It was a corner table I think, you weren’t alone. You were laughing, from a glance above my book I saw you. The child in kindergarten perhaps, rolling a tiny motor car across the edge of the table. As for her, she was holding onto your wrist, left hand, trying to make a point. The simple matching gold bands, they were lovely.

I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be that young. I don’t remember ever living my thirties. I don’t remember brushing my hair, except for that time I’m on the train wearing my top inside out, the humiliation still fresh. Yet there you were, immaculate. I am, in contrast, an insult.

The pathetic sadness of me ending up as a cliché, even the tears I’m shedding are not worthy.

Forty days, forty days Jesus did fast in the desert. Could I be more arrogant in comparing myself to Him. But here I am. I will fast in the silence of you.

March 2021

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.

Me and my little bro | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Me and my little bro
Me shorter than him
Me weighing in half his bulk. But

My back is cast iron
My mind made of steel
My heart carries him.

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.

Souls | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Souls 13/05/2015

The ray of light
On each glimmering morning dew
On grains of salt drawn
…from your teardrops
Fall from the heavens
Sunlight
Night sky billions rays of hope
I’m always with you.

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.

The owner of my dignity | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

How could you?
How could you begrudge me
my ignorance?
I am not of your world
(I care not for it)

You laugh at how much little I know
The eyes of a bewildering child
My view of your world
Mine alone

My willingness to be alone

In the world of Men
How small I am then
Small small small

I am not the person you see
How then possibly do you see me

The owner of my dignity
The mother of my children
I am me
(No one’s property)

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.

Hè về

Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

Share this:

The rooster’s ripped red comb

Chiếc mào sứt

Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

Share this:

Storm

Bão

Nguyễn Lãm Thắng

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: