Top 10 Poems for the Elderly on International Day of Older Persons 1-10

Self-Love

Poem by Phan Thuc Dinh

This woman! Don't delay, have you heard?
Don't think it's all over after forty!
Even with a hundred thousand tasks
Loving oneself must come first!

Don't feel inferior about the crow's feet
The freckles etched on your face
Who can resist the dust of time?
It's a law! Why rush into aging?

Tie your hair up high before heading out
And makeup, but don't overdo it
A hint of perfume for a green life
Leave behind the toils of clothing and food!

Call friends, chat, then go out to eat
The table is always ready to raise a glass
In the afternoon, do some exercises
Free your soul on the sand and sea!

Don't confine yourself to the prison world
Of norms and whatever heavenly duty...
The human duty is to embrace the sun and wind
Don't be like a withered dock waiting a hundred years!

Phu Quy, 29/9/2018.
Mr. Dinh.

Old Age
Poem by Phan Thu Ha

Sometimes pondering, I ask myself
Seems like my heart has cooled down
Like autumn returning to the doorstep
Why do leaves always have to fall?

Sometimes lost in thought, I suddenly realize
Winter seems to be approaching quietly
My heart tinged with snow cover
The wind blows cold with each passing day

Sometimes scratching the itch of longing
Gazing back at the years gone by
Accidentally stumbling upon an old calendar
Misty memories fading away

Sometimes haunted by loneliness
Evening shadows gradually receding
Longing to hear the laughter of young children
Quietly awaiting their footsteps

Sometimes living in the past
Yesterday suddenly forgotten
Suddenly encountering someone not unfamiliar
Thinking endlessly, unable to recall their name

Sometimes bursting into laughter absentmindedly
It seems... stuttering for words
Suddenly startled and muttering to myself
Oh, is that... old age?

The Gift
Poem by Đỗ Hương

Nowadays, Father appears as innocent as a child
Sitting silently, lost in thought
His back stretches long like a river
The towel tirelessly kissing each drop of sweat on his body

So much love! Like a young mother
Nurturing Him as she does her little one
Gently massaging tired hands like spots of sunlight in autumn
Teaching Him to tap into memories

Like a delicate autumn breeze, aching with longing
He often chats with me
He says, 'Stay and play, my child'
I turn away, hiding my tears!

Alas.
Father is aging!
I'll take care of Him as I did in my childhood
Whatever gift He desires, I'll procure it immediately
My 'child,' you know... every day...
Father longs for the 'gift' of being by His side, soothing and massaging!

When I was little, did Father ever falter?
Even the spiritual meals were abundant in my heart
Our home poor and far from Hung Yen
Tied with ropes, the little cart... to the capital, Father pulling...

Every stretch of road... lonely beside Father, I wandered
Were there really 300 kilometers, yet
We didn't make it, right Father?
Thirty kilometers long, with stubborn chicken coops
Stands selling rice porridge on the side of the road
The first time I tasted burns

The porridge exuded the smell of jars, with thinly sliced laksa leaves
A cute bowl, a crispy cruller
Father sat watching me eat and lavishly praised
That was the 1970s, Father, do you remember?

Now, in the twilight years, alongside ups and downs
Over ninety seasons, trees weep as leaves depart
Both holy battles are over, in the blink of an eye, miraculously
This is the final stretch,
almost a century!

Nights in the capital, sleepless with tears
Sad for the autumns where leaves fall carelessly
I lie remembering Father... missing you so much, beloved Father!
While Father is still here is a blessing!

27/9/2018
SunNy Do

Joy of Old Age

Poem by Cúc Họa Mi

Old age like a ripe banana tree
Only longing for health and joy for grandchildren
Half a bowl of rice remains in meals
Nights spent awake without complete rest.

A lifetime of silver-colored mist and wind
Hands soaked in the fatigue of life's oil source
Past the moments of anger and grudges
Peace is precious, no more worldly attachment.

Lightly and happily we walk
For a relaxed heart throughout human life
Morning and evening, self-sufficient, oh dear
Gathered with children and grandchildren speaking respectfully.

What matter grand banquets in tall houses
If the mind is unsettled by wind, rain, and worldly dust
Let go of doubts and hesitations
To find happiness destined for each.

No need for half-hearted perfumes......

Author: CHM B2/26/9/18

Melancholy Reigns...
Poem by Nguyễn Thị Xuân Hương

Your hair has turned gray, can't you see?
Each white strand cuts through a tender heart
Thoughts, feelings, in the darkness of the night
Drenched in dewy hues

A woman walks through the realms of love
Wrapped in doubts, she hides them in the imprints of tears by her eyes
Healing wounds with a faint smile
Hair... adding more silver threads

Silence... oh, the sound of the midnight piano
Piercing the soul, how can one sleep
Yearning to grasp someone's footsteps, longing for more
Counting the drops of time...

1/10/2018

Desiring More Joyful Years

Poem by Nguyễn Đình Cường

Everyone wishes to live to old age
Being called beloved grandparents by grandchildren
Like travelers waiting for the ferry to dock
Just that moment, nothing more!

As age advances, how much life remains?
We desire much! Yet time is limited
We ponder, thus advise our friends
Wealth, fame... let them go

When assuming the role of grandparents
Care for health, then housekeeping, child-rearing...
Hoping to always be happy, healthy
Avoiding hospitals, prescriptions...

To avoid sadness, we read some verses
Or play chess with friends
Roam here and there, visit relatives, friends
Enjoying old age to the fullest

Knowing countless households and scenes of flowers
We welcome life's favor and accept joy
No need for troubles and worries
So life becomes happier with each passing year!

Nguyễn Đình Cường.

Where is Mother's Shadow

Poem by Hồng Soi

Mother is far away, her voice echoing faintly
Echoing back in every quiet hour
All her life, she stayed awake through long nights
Day after day, bitterness lingers on her lips

Father is far away, distant and remote
In a place where the country's money flows
In wartime, Mother dreams
Of a peaceful, unified nation

At home, tears fill Mother's eyes
In difficult times, it's all about corn and salt
She endures hunger, striving for her children
Silently sacrificing, forgetting herself

Mother's life is poor, but her existence is noble
She never gives up, always standing strong
Fully devoted, her love is lofty
Waiting for Father, immersed in affection

Waiting for Father, tears always linger
Memories return to the village path of old
Once upon a time, hand in hand, trembling
Admiring the moon, hearts fluttering

Now autumn arrives, purple leaves fall in the courtyard
The old water's edge deserted, a shadow of sorrow
Sitting, waiting for the husband's return from afar
Mother is far away, but her shadow remains here!

Bond of Friendship

Poem by Trịnh Thanh Hằng

Once in a while, you, my buddy, come around
Dealing a few gossips, some trivial tales
Asking about health, how's life, profound?
I thank you, all's well, no big fails

Weary, you slump onto the bed
While I fetch sugar, preparing our tea
In these years, only floral porridge is sought
Gently sipped, easy to set free

Fancy dishes, we pass without care
For our offspring, those next in line
A cup of water with lemon, we dare
A thinner soup, far from royal dine

At this age, no need for fuss
Living happily, healthy, jesting with kin
Through countless ages, we've had our discuss
Still, we delight in banter's win

Exercise, wellness, sadness they dismiss
Boosting health, still cherishing life's bloom
Ninety years, yet joy we insist
Living lively, amidst colorful room

Planting trees, weeding, insects we catch
Tending the garden, ageless we stay
Today we've gathered a bunch of squash
You take some home, for a meal, hooray!

Days ahead might bring difficulty's knock
Remember your cane, as you visit dear friend
We've been blessed by heaven's lock
Grateful for our bond, till life's end.

Aging Requires Sharing and Understanding

Poem by Nguyệt Sương

In life, who hasn't experienced
As old age follows the dictates of time
A hundred years pass like fleeting clouds
Like a dream in this mortal realm we reside

Seventy, eighty, then it comes knocking
Peacefully accepting, akin to joy
The worldly grievances and gratitude
Let them be left behind with a smile of peace

So listen, people, in this illusory world
Though knowing there's much pain and sorrow
Many lives filled with sadness
Value and deeply understand the elderly!

Don't let old age suffer
Lonely, solitary, all alone
Struggling, striving to survive
When lying down, no loved ones by their side

Don't let the elderly be unhappy
Tears of years have dried up
Even in pain, they cannot fall
Flowing back into the depths of their hearts

Old age arrives, fearing loneliness
Fearing the world's indifference to life
Life and death, light as falling leaves
But greatly needing warmth and sharing

Please care for the elderly
Let them find peace with grandchildren in their final days
Live warmly, simply, and joyfully
With a peaceful heart before leaving this transient world!

Joy of Old Age

Poem by Nguyễn Thị Khánh Hà

Young age battles, surging forward
Contributing to the nation, maintaining peace at home
Now in old age, serene and tranquil
Returning to build a cozy nest in our countryside
As sturdy as an old banyan tree
A solid support for mother, for children
Keeping the steadfast loyalty, the color of affection
Village love, neighborhood solidarity, past and present
In old age, we lean on each other
Illnesses, ailments will quickly recede
Spouses share sweetness, endure bitterness
Grandchildren filial, bringing joy to the family
30/9/2018.