1. WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
Poetry by Lan Vương
What is happiness?
Can anyone define it?
Seems simple, but appears elusive
Happiness is waking up every morning
Seeing the sunrise brighten the home
Happiness is admiring the blooming flowers
Letting your soul follow the melodious bird songs
Plucking a few flowers to inhale the sweet fragrance
Suddenly smiling at the mischievous kids
Happiness is the toil of parents
Preparing the evening meal together
Then the whole family watches TV and chats
Moments in a lifetime that can never be forgotten
Happiness is having parents by your side
Raising you morning and night with loving advice
Even if you travel far and wide
Parents will always be the waiting warmth
Happiness is the square round of filial piety
Sharing and caring for those in need
Because human values can't be bought or sold
The value of humanity starts from the heart
Happiness is the bright things in life
Derived from the love of living
Cherish and always be grateful
Happiness is always close in the goodness around us.
20/3/2020

2. RETURN TO CHILDHOOD
Let me return to childhood's bliss
Nestled in mother's embrace, sweet and warm
Outside, the weather may change and storm
Yet, with mother, the lullabies gently kiss
Mother's love, a remedy profound
The soul of the homeland cradles in gentle autumn
The storks' wings span across the vast spectrum
Mother sacrifices, her golden body withers
Kind-hearted mother, a heart of gold
Day and night, tirelessly completes the full moon
For me to cling to, her words create a comforting tune
Her weathered hands, again, the skin of sacrifices
Oh Mother, through life's myriad streams
I still have you to mend and bolster
Bearing the weight of kingdoms on your shoulder
Hidden in the night, the restless dreams
Mother by my side, forever serene
Mother is the soft and sweet years of my life.
Lan Vương 8/3/2020

3. SOLITUDE IN MARCH
By Lan Vương
March stays behind
Love persists endlessly
Loc Vung takes on a charming spree
Streets flaunt new dresses, countless golden leaves
The sun rises, sparkling for tomorrow
Dispelling perpetual darkness
The delicate blossom of life, eternally vibrant in the heart
How could the joyous bud ever fade?
The harbor inside the hollow wharf
The boat nudges into the open sea
Sails tilt in the evening breeze
Firmly grip the oars, navigate to success
Fame, illusion, or draped in peace
Wearing the armor of destiny
Returning to visit the bamboo residence
Send your heart, my dear, fasten it in my chest.
17/3/2020

4. STILL WAITING
Still waiting for the mustard flower season in March
Golden, swirling in the evening sun, I reminisce
Memories flood back in fragments
The day you departed, even our heartbeats drifted apart
If love means splitting in two
Why should I seek anything more?
Gather the memories, send half to you
Keep the other tightly for myself
In life's vast sea of ups and downs
How could I forget the graceful silhouette of a past love?
Love is enough in countless ways
Yet the heart harbors strands of melancholy
The mustard flowers remain golden despite the pouring rain
And surely, tomorrow, the sky will clear
Forget all the long, gloomy months
Place your image deep within my heart.
Lan Vương 1/3/2020

5. MARCH BANIAN TREES
Returning to Hanoi, the nostalgic March afternoon
Rows of banian trees radiate vibrant golden hues
Adding a touch of smile to the lips
A captivating landscape beckoning poets
Hoan Kiem Lake, the old quarter changes attire
The dreamy sky echoes a distant flute
The chilling melody of tweeting birds
A realm resembling a scene from earthly paradise
Wandering footsteps explore the unfamiliar
Trees aglow in golden autumn shades
Fragrance intermingled with mist
Gently descending upon the curious streets
Weaving fingers stroll along the path
The scent of love vividly surges
Banian trees on the bustling streets
Spring lingers sweetly, dreaming of autumn.
Lan Vương 4/3/2020

6. ONE HALF
What to dedicate on our special day?
When we are just halves combined
Sharing the burden of a lifetime
Walking together down the same path
You and I, a vow of eternal companionship
The oath still resonates in the left chest
The red rose retains its eternal hue
As if engraved in that moment of waiting
What is love that makes so many dreamy?
You're no longer young, no more dreams
But please don't split into halves
Let time confine the happiness of us two
Bound together by our lovely children
Sharing the bitter drops of sweat
Life, whether stormy or with fierce winds
Still sweetly calls us, darling
One half of me firmly refuses to part
Building a comfortable nest with you
The sun and the moon still shine brightly day and night
Testifying to our perfectly fitting halves
Being together, happiness beyond words...
Lan Vương 14/2/2020

7. MARCH RETURNS
March returns, scenting the air with pomelo blossoms
The purple orchids on your cheeks blush sweetly
Swinging back to the vibrant nostalgia of childhood
The intoxicating love in the initial memories
March returns, steeping everything in the fragrance of betel leaves
The sunlight gracefully extends over the cool betel garden
Your shoulder leans, calling the overflowing love
Smiles on the lips as expansive as the spring sky
Oh March, the music resonates even closer
Nights of love echo in the realm of happiness
Fulfilling expectations, urging the heart's desire
Noble integrity, like the bamboo and plum blossoms, full of grace
March returns, life once again feels beautifully fresh...
Lan Vương 1/3/2020

8. SPRING UNFURLS DREAMS
He, robust as a sprouting bud leaping forward
Overcoming winter, welcoming the gentle spring
The morning glow radiates gentle rays into the distance
Dragging warm breath down to the vibrant earth
Dispelling all the entanglements of fate
Conveying sincerity as if in a dream
Words of love open the door widely to greet
Spring is arriving, sweetly sharing the blossom of love
The bell's ring resonates, soothing the tranquil soul
Amidst the intoxicated land and sky, a perpetual serenade
Wishing for a night lost in the owl's song
Spring unfolds dreams under the vast heaven.
Lan Vương 1/2/2020

9. THANK YOU, MY LOVE
Thank you, my love, for choosing me without hesitation
In the storm of life's tumultuous uproar
Long has our love been immersed in the tempest's wind
Now it resurfaces, robust and standing tall
Though age has come, the mind remains resilient
A tranquil heart steps through the folly of youth
Despite the hardships, the heart remains ever pure
Still yearning for the wilderness of love
Thank you, my love, words need not be many
Let us drift in the realm of dreams
I do not wish for the night to quickly fade
A sudden awakening amidst the celestial dream
More than half of life remains tranquil
Wealth and fame may grow cold
The woman within me seeks only a love that sparkles
Complete with affection, saturating the joy of family.
Lan Vương 2019

10. EMBRACING TIME
Reaching out to grasp the droplet of time
Youth fades amidst the intense fall season
Preserving the ancient fragrance of a bygone era
Drifting with the fate of a delicate lotus leaf.
Lan Vương 17/1/2020

11. RENEWED SPRING
Glistening dewdrops on the grass
Blossoms of peach sway in the breeze
Spring garden in the transitional season
Listening to the heavens pour showers of prosperity
Spring touches every corner, radiating light
Lanterns illuminate countless homes
Everywhere echoes with praises
Celebrating spring, celebrating the Party's determined progress
Celebrating the steadfast unity of the country
From North to Central to South, the land is connected
Spring sows melodies and poetic verses
You waiting for me, and I waiting for us to dream together.
Lan Vương 26/1/2020

12. WHERE TO?
Let's not return to the past
Accidentally carried the half moon to exchange
Now, collecting sad memories
Burying the past in the silver mist of the wind
Black hair, rosy lips
I return the faded love
Rows of trees standing deserted
Hands holding, clouds lightly drift away
Evening comes, intoxicated by raindrops
Love is like an illusion haunting the heart
Where to? Lost in search
Frantically spinning, pinning down the sorrows within.
Lan Vương 2/9/2019

13. PROUD OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION IN VIETNAM
Poem: Lan Vương
It's just white chalk on the blackboard
But why do I feel more in love every day
Hands guiding hands
Building a bright future with pride
Proud of the teaching profession in Vietnam
Elegant, simple, history engraved with gold
It's a truth forever strong
The boat of knowledge advances, shining brightly
Learn the ways to be a good person
Cultivate the soul, a difficult journey
How joyful to see well-behaved students
Hidden in the chalk dust against the course of life
No teacher, no... my dear students
Remember the lifelong bonds of gratitude.
20/11/2019

14. MIDDLE AUTUMN
Oh, strangely, Autumn comes in the middle of Summer
Dew spreads, mesmerizing the space
Suddenly, the milk flowers are intensely fragrant
Blooming, exuding sweetness, and filling the air with fragrance.
Intoxicated by the dreamy violet phoenix trees
Purple butterfly pea quietly whispers at noon
Fragrant lotus in the lake sways gently
Light raindrops lull the poetry of love.
Trees wake up, stretching their buds
Flowers burst into bloom, showcasing their beauty
The sun, fragrant with newly harvested rice, shines brightly
Fresh and lively, sending thoughts to the beloved.
LV 1/6/2019

15. GRATITUDE
Moved, watching the flag fluttering in the breeze
Autumn morning echoes the timeless words
Awaiting the moment when a bright smile blooms together
Celebrating the motherland ablaze in radiant red
There you stand, like the sun shining its rays
Warm and earnest voice, full of love
Joy resonates on every path
The homeland will shine from this point onward
The whole nation, brighter thanks to your grace
On the map, the words 'Viet Nam' stand out boldly
Oh, freedom, these two words are more precious than gold
Unity is resolutely woven into one block
For decades, the same steadfast heart
Today, celebrating National Day with songs of joy
Grateful for the virtues of the venerable Father
For the land of the Dragon and the Fairy's descendants
Today, everyone is like a flowing waterfall
Determined to build a beautiful and prosperous country
For Vietnam to shine across the continents
The soul of rivers and mountains resonates for generations.
Lan Vương 1/9/2019

16. PINK LOTUS
Lotus rises from muddy water
Yet, how gracefully it blooms in this strange life
Petals of pink, golden glow
Unfazed by rain or shine, it sparkles
Pink lotus, sweetness on delicate lips
Carefully, it reaches, emanating fragrance
Its beauty transcends the transient world
Elegance fueled by love for humanity
Lotus, it is you, oh, enchanting one
Quintessential fragrance of the homeland, pure and radiant.
Lan Vương 11/6/2019

17. PURPLE MYRTLE FLOWER
Purple myrtle by the roadside displays its charm
Wild yet only sows intoxicating delight
Travelers pause in this realm
Hastening to admire, hearts filled with flutter.
Amidst rain and shine, it blooms brightly
Enduring, it radiates freshness and beauty
Tender lips embrace a smile
Purple, the color of loyalty, forever remembered.
Unfading, its fragrance grows more profound
Wishing for beautiful, everlasting love
Like the gentle, kind-hearted maiden
Dreaming of the day we meet, tranquil and serene.
Lan Vương 7/6/2019

18. WRITING FOR YOU
You
A woman beyond the age of forty
So labeled as a woman of the past
Carries things from deep in the past
Wrapping up sorrows in the corners of bird feet
Beyond forty, you're not busy seeking
Just silently pondering on lost things
Not pretending, always living true
Youth, with money, all will fade away
Beyond forty, you just need a home
Little children and an old man
They teach you what is enough
Sweet happiness after the bustling of life
Beyond forty, you fear the painful
Fear separation and the glare of tears
Because the heart has clenched many times
Fading blush, sealing personal sorrows
Beyond forty, you only love tranquility
No competition, no worldly sadness
For you're a woman who has experienced
Seeing through, thinking clearly, letting go of everything in life
Beyond forty, you just need that
Words of love, the sincerest protection
No need for elaborate, honeyed words
Old but genuine, my dear.
Lan Vương 18/6/2019

19. HALF OF ME RETURNS IN THE PURPLE AFTERNOON OF BITTER AUTUMN
Nothing left to remember, my love
Those months and years can't stay green forever
Forget the past, bury youth behind
Dreams leaving us, redundant and wasted
Time flows, old love fades like dull colors
The stories of searching for each other shattered
The waning crescent moon rests in contemplation
Not round, leaving the sky of love pockmarked
Can't find each other on this path
Gathering the past, hiding it in the fragrance of milk flowers
Life owes nothing, so it splits into two halves
Half of me returns in the purple, stinging eyes of autumn
There's nothing left, so let go of this pain
The train has run on the tracks of eternal longing
Let it be, ending this incomplete love
Rain in July, sadness returns to the autumn sky.
Lan Vương 4/7/2019

20. THE MONTH OF MAY AUTUMN
Round eyes look at you, my dear
Feeling the autumn of May in the clear Hanoi sky
Autumn of grass and trees bustling and abundant
Like the life story my mother used to tell me.
Old mulberry trees still hum the cicadas' song
Gently taking you back to a childhood time
Flowers falling softly into your hands
Green mulberry leaves covering the sunlight above
We talk about us, playing bride and groom...
You coax me with a thousand promises
The tiny mulberries never become a crown
Our initial wishes turn into a connection in emptiness
Season after season, mulberry trees still bloom
The young fruit remains green, retaining its fragrant smell
I look up, lost in the foolishness of autumn
Where are you? The land of nostalgia stirs again...
The May autumn remains evergreen and sweet.
Lan Vương 4/5/2019

