Top 15 Beautiful Poems by Poet Pham Hung

SO MUCH LOVE
Author: Pham Hung

So much love, yet I never dared to express it
My fault... Now it’s clear to you, my dear
Lost in the world, always searching
While forgetting to notice the person beside me.

Not with rosy cheeks, nor beautiful like a dream
Not gentle, nor flying with loving words
Sometimes, I'm full of complaints
Perhaps, you’re annoyed, bearing the weight of it all.

Love... Love forever, the hands now rough
Lines etched under my eyes, a sign of time
Where have those youthful days gone?
Turns out, you carry them, navigating life’s market.

A husband, the wanderer, always on the go
Leaving you with the chores at home
Your hair turns grey, tangled and wild
At dawn and dusk, you work non-stop.

Three kids, growing up so fast
The sound of 'Dad' stirs something deep inside
Dear, I’m sorry I can’t fix it
Love you so much, forgive me, my love!

So much love! No more searching
Now I see... You are like the moon
I wish to be the still lake
To embrace and hold forever our shared love!

PH. 03.03.16.

NOT JUST LOVERS
Author: Pham Hung

We are not a couple of lovers
Just two people
Bound by a shared burden
Enduring the sweat, wrapped in the cold night’s blanket
Following the same path, seeking refuge from the rain and sun.

Yes, there were times when I took you out
When a few children called us Mom and Dad
We rejoiced seeing them healthy
And wept when they were sick.

Not lovers, yet we were still drawn together
We shared moments of intimacy
We lay in bed, tired and worn
Waiting anxiously for each other, day and night
At times, we fought, but soon made up.

Not lovers, but time still slips away
Suddenly, I notice the first grey hairs
Oh, dear stranger
Even though life is hard
We may not be lovers, but we will always stay together!

PH. 14.02.2017.

THANK YOU, MY TEACHER

Author: Pham Hung

The lessons you taught, I still haven’t repaid
Like a bird’s shadow, or a fish swimming downstream
Though I know you never expect, nor wait
Still, I feel the weight of this debt in my heart.

With a few hurried words, I write to thank you
For your care, morning and night
For your hard work, nurturing us with knowledge
Helping generations of students succeed.

You gave us boundless love
A love that doesn’t fade with time
You never expected anything in return
But your hair turned white, covered in chalk dust!

It’s not about giving to receive
It’s about seeing the children’s tears of gratitude
We may be strangers, you and I
But how could you teach us without hesitation?

I will always remember this kindness
Thank you, teacher... from a grateful heart!
A few clumsy words, joined together in verse
Wishing you and your loved ones good health forever!

PH. 08.11.2016.

THANK YOU, THE ONE WHO LED ME TO THE SHORE

Author: Pham Hung

The feelings still surge like the ocean waves
Your guidance, when you ferried me across
You gave me knowledge, as precious as gold
Leading me through storms and the scorching sun.

When I stood on the other shore, I couldn’t speak
The path here wasn’t easy to walk
You added lessons of respect and care
Teaching me humanity—this I’ll never forget.

Your teachings will follow me, building my future
Creating a foundation for my dreams to come true
I hope life will be brighter
And that my world will have less pain, more smiles.

I wish you happiness and good health
With peace surrounding you... today, I send this poem
Thank you for leading me to the shore
Helping me grow in virtue, filling my dreams.

PH. 06.11.2017.

ASK ME
(Random thoughts 79)
Author: Pham Hung

Why do you hide
March within your hair?
The scent of grapefruit still lingers in September
The June mist
You’ve hidden deep in your eyes
Causing my shadow to bear the burden of exile.

Let me ask: why is the field as soft as silk
With a hint of cool breeze and the sweet scent of green rice
From last season, which I carelessly lost
You hid it all—can your small hands still offer it back?

Let me ask: what did you do with the summer sun?
Where did you hide it… why do your cheeks glow pink?
When I confessed in the cold of winter’s evening
Do you still keep it hidden, close to your heart?

Let me ask
Where did you hide half of my soul?
Where, tell me? I search, but I cannot find.

PH. 05.09.18.

LODGING IN THE MUNDANE WORLD*
Author: Pham Hung

You are a guest, while I am just a lodger
Sometimes, pain comes from a single word—love
Not yet paid in full, so dust lingers in my eyes
Following the common ways of this human world.

You tirelessly search through storms
For a way home, longing for peace
I quietly observe the falsehoods of life
And the fire in my heart feels like it's fading away.

Two shadows trace two straight lines
They walk together but rarely meet
The corner of a small inn on a sunny day
By chance... one ahead, the other behind.

Who knows what debts bind us from the past
Eyes meeting, and so much is silently understood
You make promises... I create dreams
Hoping one day our hearts will merge and soar.

Life remains as turbulent as ever
You leave... I wait at the little street corner
Tomorrow will bloom white, then the phoenix will burn red
And I quietly bury my dreams forever.

I thought I’d end my wandering journey
And rest in the heart of another
But in the end, the mundane world pulls me back
Now we are both guests in this life, my dear!

VISIT TO THE WEST PHUONG TEMPLE
Author: Pham Hung

I arrived at West Phuong one afternoon
Dreamily deciding to let my soul drift
To see what Huy Can wrote long ago*
The Arhats here etched their wisdom...

The suffering of countless lifetimes in this world
Illusions flicker, yet they appear
Colors and voids, so hard to comprehend
As life’s dreams fade like fleeting flowers.

The wanderer does not dream of Nirvana
Affection that comes and goes like the wind
Still basking in sunlight, enduring rain and wind
How can I avoid the tears that fall?

Evening smoke weaves across the mountain range
The scent of rice lingers sweetly in the air
The chant “Ná-mo...”** ends its tone
Startled, my mind stirs with unease.

PH. 08.06.2017.
*The Arhats of the West Phuong Temple – Huy Can.

BY THE RIVER WITH FALLING SUNSHINE
Author: Pham Hung

If only I had gone to that place
Then today, my heart wouldn't be stirred
The boat just left the shore, across the river
The ferry now lost, caught in the spinning current.

I blame the sleeve, tilting under the midday sun
As the wind sways, pulling branches in playful dance
One afternoon... my gaze falls
Swayed by curves, forgetting the storm of life.

I blame the scent of hair, like ripe grapefruit
I blame the autumn lake filled with threads of affection
My soul adrift... lost
In the swirling melody, drifting carelessly.

I blame myself, trapped in a deep abyss
Lost in the allure of another
Where can I find the graceful figure
By the river with the falling sunshine, as life’s rain pours down?

PH. 10.10.17.

NIGHT'S DEW DROPS.
Author: Pham Hung

I want to send
all my endless longing
The moon above is incomplete without you, casting shadows on my mind
The lonely clouds drift, unsure of their destination
The star lost...standing by the bridge, pondering.

I want to send you the dew drops of the night, fragile and broken
Impossible to hold onto, though I regret their sparkle
Sending you the wandering breeze
For the emptiness beside me has become infinite!

In that place, may the moon not hold any grudge
Let the clouds smile, even though they stand alone in the silent night
And, darling, please press your lips tight
Don’t let the dust settle, or tears stain your eyes.

These dew drops, hold them gently
Don’t let the precious moments slip away
Though the wind is sorrowful, please don’t let it roam free
Hold on to the golden moments, my dear.

I promise
one day, I will
Find the dewdrops’ sparkle on the leaves at dawn!

PLEASE RETURN, AUTUMN IS COMING BACK SOON
Author: Pham Hung

Come back, my dear
Autumn, hurry back
So I can search the dry leaves
For old love whispers, though twisted
Those hasty kisses, sweet and brief.

Come back, my dear
Autumn, hurry back
So I can find, at the edge of the autumn breeze
The figure from a time when I was lost
Her raven hair, shining like clouds in the sky.

Come back, my dear
Autumn, hurry back
So I can find the scent of fresh milk, intoxicating
The steps she took, half of my soul in pain
While the other half wanders aimlessly... through the days.

PH. 5.7.2017.

THE CHILD RETURNS
Author: Pham Hung

It’s been a long time since I came back
Chasing the fleeting life, lost in foreign lands
Home... oh, Mother
I’m sure Father still waits by the door, gazing far away.

I've left, while the bitter gourd's still young
Not yet bearing fruit, the grapefruit blossoms still in bloom
But how many winters have passed
And I’ve been far away... the field of mustard greens in the cold.

I'm sure Father still splits the afternoon wind
Carrying the morning dew, bearing the weight of the golden sun
The grass along the edges heavy, the basket on his back
And at midnight, Mother still wears the moon on her shoulder.

Father’s shadow stretches long across the fading sunlight
Time has turned Mother’s hair to silver
Looking back, my heart aches
Because I struggle, not asking for myself.

The village, simple and humble
When I return one day, I won’t hesitate
Only asking the Buddha for mercy
To bless Father and Mother with good health... so I can care for them again.

PH. 21.8.18.

I AM STILL DRUNK ON THE SWEETNESS OF YOUR LIPS
Author: Pham Hung

The afternoon drunk
The soft sunlight falls
The streets drunk
As dreams overflow.

The moon hangs, making the night intoxicating
Your smile... my heart is longing!

At dawn
Waves gently sway
Spring intoxicated by the green leaves... eager for the meeting.

Forever in love
Those big round eyes
When you leave
I remember the boat, the riverbank.

Autumn intoxicated
The scent of milk flowers returns
Summer drunk
By the sound of cicadas, the red phoenix flower.

The wind drunk
Looking for the winter season
And I
Am still drunk
On the sweetness
Of your lips!

THE HOMELAND AND LOVE!

Author: Pham Hung

I have long searched for the image of the Motherland
Oh, these two sacred words, 'Homeland'!
Our ancestors broke the chains, shattered the shackles
Heads fell, blood flowed, making mountains and hills tremble!

I hear it in the lullaby of Mother
In the struggles of my village, a thousand hardships
The golden sun curls the hair of my sister
The night dew burdens Grandma, her back bent low!

The teacher taught, on every inch of land
The spirits of the fallen heroes linger
My country, at every turn
Victory and sorrow, both abound!

I see the calloused hands
As Father tilled the barren fields
Sweat exchanged for golden grains
Sweat that nourishes and brings fruit home.

I hear the bamboo gently singing
The grapefruit blooms, exuding a fragrant embrace
I hear the coconut trees whisper
- Don't worry about searching... don’t you know yet???

The spirit of the Land stretches wide and vast
But it’s found in humble thatched roofs
The orchard, the sweet fruits
Even in the city... with its green, red, and yellow lights.

It lives in the wild forests, the roaring seas
In the rain and wind, the dew resting on soft leaves
Hidden in the day, blending with the night
When the sun sets, and the moon rises.

I quietly follow the wind’s path
Close my eyes and hear the rustling grass
Suddenly... I feel a lump in my throat
“The spirit of the Land” is not something to seek outside.

It lies deep within the heart
Feel it... and you’ll see it shine bright
The love of mankind is vast
And the word 'HOMELAND' is a sacred home!

PH. 01.04.2016.

COME VISIT THE PORT CITY

Author: Pham Hung

Come, visit my hometown, the port city
Where the river meets the sea, waves crashing against the shore
The 'Red Flamboyant' flower has been calling for many years
The familiar sound of the ship's horn even haunts my dreams.

Come to my hometown, the port city
Where the great general founded the village, creating a legacy
In ancient times, they drove away invaders, letting An Bien shine
Thousands of years later, the golden history remains deep in the soil.

Now, the streets are lit with the glow of city lights
Ships come and go, loaded with cargo
The salty shores have shaped the people, toughened by hardship
And so their hospitality is vast and endless.

Come, let’s take a walk through the city
Where the streets are full of lively energy
We’ll pass Tam Bac and visit the Iron Market
Then go to the train station market and the bustling market on Cát Dài street.

Down Cầu Đất, Lạch Tray, and Lê Lợi streets
To Ngã Năm and Ngã Sáu, stopping at Lê Lai
The Port City awaits with a thousand joys and surprises
Let’s walk together beneath the long shadows of the setting sun.

Let’s pause and taste some local delicacies
Try the famous 'Cuốn Bánh' rolls from Hải Phòng
If you prefer, we can also have 'Nem Cuộn' or 'Bún Đậu' from the busy stalls
Where the crowd enjoys their meals eagerly.

Let’s visit Trạng Trình in Vĩnh Bảo
Stop by Thủy Nguyên and see the vast rice fields
Then head to Tiên Lãng, the Elephant Mountain of An Lão
And explore the ancient Mạc Dynasty castle by the riverbank.

From Kiến Thụy, we’ll head out to the coast
Visit Đồ Sơn, a place of beautiful scenery
Go straight to Bạch Long Vỹ, the island in the heart of the ocean
And arrive at Cát Bà and Cát Hải to watch the sunrise.

This is my hometown... with the vibrant red of the Flamboyant flowers
And the workers in their blue uniforms all over the streets
The people here are never afraid of hardship
The sound of the ship’s horn always echoes through the mist.

Come, dear, come visit the Port City!
Walk through the streets and enjoy the rivers
You’ll feel the love of the people shining bright
And your smile will bloom like a radiant flower!

PH. 19.11.2016.

THE PAINTING

Author: Pham Hung

The painting depicts a vast, endless sky
Grandfather and Father walked on, never getting closer
I stand outside, merely observing
Never daring to take a step forward.

Grandfather falls, adding red to the painting
Like countless others whose blood flowed into rivers
Grandmother rowed through the hardships
Placing hope in the golden fields ahead.

Mother wept, searching for Father’s shadow
Amid the endless green mountains
After suffering, after enduring so much
Father returns, broken, but not healed.

A century-long painting, so full of color
I keep gazing at it but fail to understand
Yes, there were battles fought, enemies driven away
But what has Vietnam gained now?

To paint it, people used their own blood and flesh
A quarter of the descendants of the Dragon
The painting is unfinished... its meaning blurred
Teardrops fall from the descendants of the ancestors.

The sky once peaceful now only a facade
Greedy officials digging deep to amass wealth
Offshore, the islands are sinking in storms
Standing by, I bow my head in pain.

They paint with chaotic colors
Black marks on the environmental disasters
They paint with calculated moves
Spilling Yellow to blame the defiant ones.

Shadows painted with billions in debt
Drawn out but left to gather dust and decay
Palatial estates sprout like mushrooms
While around them, children starve from hunger.

The false painting still hangs on the wall
As so many suffer in sorrow and pain
The true painting, I dream of a day when our country
Is stronger, more prosperous, and forever beautiful.

PH. 24.7.2017.