A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Hồ Như Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
the funeral hearse passes by mumbling in the street a mad man, standing holding onto his dick !
the dying light leaning into autumn the same mad man trying to stick it into some dumb bitch nothing, just a tickle !
VIẾT TRONG NGÀY ĐƯA MA MỘT THẰNG KHỐN KIẾP
xe tang qua phố lầm bầm một người điên , đứng tay cầm con cu !
trời chiều đã ngã vào thu vẫn người điên đó , đang ” cù ” con câm !
vũ hồ như
Vũ Ngọc Giao or Vũ Hồ NHư, the Vietnamese musician, and poet born in 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
“without much thought one day out of the air plopped on a leaf, displayed a grasshopper”
1. life feels like a waste of time nothing’s worth a dime except wine and poetry
a few notes certainly a song in the air for whoever is there
2. who cares for a fool, that’s fair year in year out, dusk till dawn the yawn notes plucked. wine drank. poetry spawned.
3. poetry making . guitar strumming . drinking and drinking . howling at the moon there in the dark the quiet call nothing at all . nothing at all
4. their in the air nothing at all the grasshopper stood NOT so tall the strummed notes lost in time in a dream
5. in the dream true are the stars in the air they are just there for time they did not care dead at the tips of dry brown grass they did they did fare
6. brown brown blades of grass care they do not, for what had passed and you have left ! to never look back? At this O desolate, oblivious land
7. O oblivious and desolate land home to poetry and wine O this guitar of mine in moonlight I will dance and sing about nothing, not a thing
8. singing about nothing like how you were so innocent then unlike now how bashful how shy we held hand, we did it together with not a bother
9. with not a bother we did it together without a promise or a future upon the reverie I realised that time pass us by waits for no one, never hides
10. time waiting for no one time accepting . giving nothing clumps of clouds here and there why do people bother, why do they care?
11. people care and bother until when and why? my homecoming will be full of songs songs and prayers like an ode like poetry .
LIÊN TƯỞNG KHÚC
“ một hôm trời đất ngây thơ thả con châu chấu lên bờ lá xanh “
1. qua đi một thời lãng bạt còn đây chỉ rượu và thơ dạo đàn thản nhiên ta hát cùng trời đất rất ngu ngơ
2. ngu ngơ đất trời có biết trần gian còn một thằng khờ quanh năm khật khừ , lếch thếch chơi đàn . uống rượu . làm thơ
3. làm thơ . chơi đàn . uống rượu nửa đêm hú gọi trăng mờ thinh không bốn bề vắng bặt nghe ra trời đất ngây thơ
4. đất trời ngây thơ quá đỗi con châu chấu cũng vật vờ tiếng đàn – đi , về không lối ngàn năm còn lạc trong mơ
5. trong mơ nghe ra rất thật đất trời sao quá ngây ngô bỏ quên tháng ngày chết ngất trên từng cọng cỏ vàng khô
6. vàng khô trên từng cọng cỏ trần gian đau nặng bao giờ người ơi ! người đi có nhớ một vùng điên dại xác xơ
7. xác xơ một vùng điên dại ta về uống rượu . làm thơ dưới trăng ôm đàn múa , nhảy hát lời ca ngợi vu vơ
8. vu vơ hát lời ca ngợi em xưa thanh khiết ngây thơ lan xưa hương chùng bối rối ta xưa chăn chiếu ơ thờ
9. ơ thờ chiếu chăn một thuở ta trôi không bến . không bờ về ngang vườn xưa chợt nhớ ngàn năm không đợi . không chờ
10. ngàn năm không chờ . không đợi ngàn đời không nhận . không cho hắt hiu một chùm mây nổi sao trần gian vẫn quanh co ?
11. trần gian sao vẫn quanh co quanh co cho đến bao giờ ? đường về thản nhiên ta hát một lời kinh hiện như thơ .
vũ ngọc giao
Vũ Ngọc Giao
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician, and poet born in 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
he was sweating on top of the roof trying to fix a leaky tile
a mate of his turned up at his front gate the guy curled an index finger in front of his face with not a word signaled him to come down he climbed down his ladder his mate leaned closer and whispered into his ear: – Mate, can you spare me twenty?
he didn’t reply
he proceeded to climb up the ladder once he was back on the roof with his leaky tile he turned to his mate at the front gate curled his index finger and beckoned his mate to climb up once they were eye to eye he leaned into his mate’s ear and said quietly: – No
LỊCH SỰ
hắn đang hì hục sửa lại cái mái nhà .
bạn đến , đứng dưới sân , ngoắc hắn . hắn leo xuống . bạn kề vào tai hắn , nói rất nhỏ : – ” có tiền không ? cho mượn một ít ! “
hắn làm thinh .
leo lên lại chỗ cũ , hắn ngoắc bạn . bạn leo lên . hắn kề vào tai bạn , nói rất nhỏ : – ” không có ! “
….
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician, and poet born in 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
source: Vũ Ngọc Giao’s social media page
one . the old pavement damp with moonlight , the old garden silent and abandoned , giving into the scent of ylang ylang .
the distracted notes strummed on the old guitar , a halfhearted serenade of endless love .
two . the old pavement found a place to settle , the old bird with broken wings , sound sad eyes .
the old moon looks ripe and rather crazy , blue bruised and yellow, and hazy, dangling in the middle of the sky .
three . the old pavement chilled by an empty seat , the weepy regret of an old lover , Game over .
soon, I will leave the old pavement for the beyond forever , light our names, in the remembrance of the old moon .
PHỐ & TRĂNG
một . phố xưa chìm ngợp màu trăng , vườn xưa im vắng , hương hoàng lan đưa .
đàn xưa ai dạo thẫn thờ , ta ngồi hát khúc hững hờ trăm năm .
hai . phố xưa tìm một chỗ nằm , chim xưa gãy cánh , mắt đăm muộn phiền .
trăng xưa như trái tình điên , vàng xanh hiu hắt , treo nghiêng giữa trời .
ba . phố xưa lạnh một chỗ ngồi , tình xưa khóc nuối , cuộc chơi đã tàn .
mai , ta bỏ phố lên ngàn , thắp tên nhau , nhớ mùa trăng thuở nào .
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician, and poet born in 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Vũ Ngọc Giao (source: the poet’s social media page)
my whole life waiting for you light fading as the sun rises love beckoning endearment
I waited for you in silence time turning the ache shifting the mournful cries
another day, a soul upon a golden age our yearning, the lifelong pain and cruelty!
CHỜ EM
ta chờ em suốt một đời nắng phai theo nắng tình trôi theo tình
ta chờ em rất lặng thinh chỉ nghe ngày tháng trở mình than van
một mai , hồn có võ vàng nhớ nhau , nhớ cuộc chơi tàn nhẫn , xưa !
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician and poet born 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm, the blogger, poet and translator, born 1971 in Phu Nhuan, Saigon, Vietnam. The pharmacist currently lives and works in Western Sydney, Australia.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
you’re there in the tearful light the sunset on the bight fades tunes on an abandoned porch into memory, the thoughts sink
the waves persistently soothing the ebb and flow of your name my life in the end sees nothing but the night sea
*****
you are the way my deliverance to the Promised Land the great magnificent splendour of Palestine me – a mere wandering soul of an Israelite take me, hold me, adorn me with your kiss
because you will always be my Country!
BIỂN ĐÊM
em ngồi cùng giọt nắng hoàng hôn úa bên thềm tiếng đàn ngoài hiên vắng đã chìm vào lãng quên
vẫn nghe hoài tiếng sóng vỗ miệt mài tên em hết đời ta có lẽ chỉ còn là biển đêm
*****
em là con đường đưa tôi trở về Đất Hứa miền đất vĩ đại huy hoàng tráng lệ Palestine còn tôi – tôi chỉ là hồn Do Thái lang thang xin em hãy ôm và hôn tôi
vì , Tổ Quốc tôi chính là em mãi mãi !
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician, and poet born in 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Vũ Ngọc Giao (source: the poet’s social media page)
there in the ever ending call of a bird on shoulders fell I couldn’t in whom eyes tell exhaling sound desolation
.
November 2019
_____
CÕI VÔ CÙNG
.
sớm mai trong cõi vô cùng tiếng chim nào rớt ngập ngừng trên vai tôi nhìn tôi trong mắt ai nghe ra hơi thở đã dài quạnh hiu
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician and poet born 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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.
A poem in Vietnamese by Vũ Ngọc Giao Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Vũ Ngọc Giao (source: the poet’s social media page)
eyes foggy with exhaustion ,
followed the murky water ,
heading for the sea !
–
in time , amidst heaven and earth ,
easy by the breeze ,
sang the wordless melody !
_
January 2022
–
LỜI VÔ NGÔN
* với Trần Xuân Dũng
–
mắt chìm sương khói mỏi mê ,
theo con nước đục ,
ta về biển khơi !
–
mai sau , giữa đất và trời ,
thản nhiên cùng gió ,
hát lời vô ngôn !
Vũ Ngọc Giao, the Vietnamese musician and poet born 1951, My Tho. A former student Petrus Ký Sài Gòn (1961 – 1968), an alumnus of the Faculty of Philosophy, the University of Literature Saigon (1968 – 1970), he is the founder of Phu Nhuan Guitar Club, Saigon. His poetry is published on many literary websites. A few familiar songs: Looking back at my life, The man with sad eyes (a poem by Đỗ Trung Quân), His return on a rainy night, The July rain…
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 