Top 10 Finest Poems by Ba Huyen Thanh Quan

The Afternoon of a Traveler

The sky grows dim with the evening's shadow,
The sound of distant conchs fades into the empty watchtower.
The roofed house stands as the fisherman returns to distant streets,
While the shepherd beats his horn to call in the flock.
The wind sweeps the thousand willows, birds soar with weary wings,
A guest walks slowly under the falling mist by the willows.
Those in the palace, those on their travels,
Who will listen to the tales of lonely sorrow?

Some versions are titled "The Evening Scene," or "Homesick in the Evening."

Source:

• Vietnamese Literature Commentary of the Late 19th Century, by Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến, published in Hanoi, 1953.
• Vietnamese Literary Canon, published by Literature Publishing House, 2004.

The Scenery of Huong Son

The most magnificent scene in the world lies here,
A boat welcomes guests, its oars gently rocking.
On either side, the mountains embrace the fragrant streams,
While countless flowers scatter their shadows over the trees.
The gates of the Buddha's temple rise through the stone steps,
The pagoda reaches high, filled with incense smoke.
"Nam vô" echoes, clearing away worldly matters,
Only the mystical landscapes of Bồng Lai remain visible here.

The Sudden Fall of Autumn

Softly, the raindrops fall like the sound of a bamboo flute,
Praising how beautifully one can sketch such a desolate scene.
The ancient trees stand tall with lush, round canopies,
While the broad river remains serene, a perfect reflection.
The mountains and valleys drink deeply, lost in the intoxication of wine,
With pockets full of moonlight, weighed down by poetry.
The scenery itself seems to favor those who behold it,
Who, upon witnessing it, cannot help but be lost in wonder.

Source:

• Vietnamese Literature Commentary of the Late 19th Century, by Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến, published in Hanoi, 1953.
• Vietnamese Literary Canon, published by Literature Publishing House, 2004.

Tran Bac Pagoda

The Tran Bac royal temple stands amidst the weathered grass,
Passersby feel the sting of sorrow as they move on.
A few lotus towers pour forth fragrant incense,
While the five elements of cloud and wind embrace the royal robes.
Waves of old and new rise in a bustling scene,
The bell's toll, both ancient and new, echoes louder.
The people of the past, the old scenery, where are they now?
How curiously lost are those with shaved heads!

Source:

• Vietnamese Poetry Anthology, by Dương Quảng Hàm, published by the National Ministry of Education, Hanoi, 1951.
• Vietnamese Literature Commentary of the Late 19th Century, by Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến, published in Hanoi, 1953.
• Vietnamese Literary Canon, published by Literature Publishing House, 2004.

Song Nu Te Te Thai Thuy Van

Before the altar, the soul weeps, lamenting:
'A hundred years are not yet fulfilled, Mother hastens to the realm of Buddha without a glance back at me,
The nine words of wisdom, I will repay, but I search the world below and cannot find you.'

Mother is gone! Oh Mother!
... My heart is filled with sorrow, how could I bear it,
I miss you, the past sorrow is too deep to describe.

Our bond was created long ago, I heard the tales of you when I was nineteen, following your steps across many paths.
I was born of you, as fate has woven this connection over countless lives, like the Tạ family's legacy.

From humble beginnings, your reputation grew strong,
The elegant path filled with the scent of love's legacy.

Even though my promise to age gracefully has not been kept, I still endure the storms of sorrow.
Fifty years of life are not yet completed, like a willow branch caught in the morning mist and evening sun.

Alas!
The leaves fall, marking the end of a thousand springs,
The clouds embrace the mountain tops.

In the celestial realm, I receive a message, the birds fly with me to fulfill the sacred vow,
Yet on Earth, I search in vain, unable to repay my debt to the heavens and the seas.

The bell's sound is faint, as if muffled by time,
The fruit-laden branches are too heavy to bear.

Though I know a man is rare, the clouds pass, and the crane flies afar, the task of honoring the elders depends on us,
And though a woman is scarce, no boat can be filled without her hands, it is only through female sacrifices that we find our way.

Now:
As the summer sun sets,
We perform the ritual at noon.

It is called the offering of eight cups of water, a sign of pure devotion, as we honor with sincerity and humility.

The title refers to a memorial poem written by two sons-in-law for their late mother-in-law. This work is written in Nôm script and recorded in Quốc phong ngẫu vịnh, catalog number VHv.2248, housed at the Han-Nom Library.

Source: Vũ Thanh Hằng, “A Memorial Poem in Nôm Script,” Han-Nom Journal, Issue 1/1990

Den Tran Vo

The gentle spring evening falls on Tran Dai,
Lifting the spirit, free from worldly strife.
Three calls of the bell echo as the waves roar,
A pit of sorrow, water swirls and the sky turns.
The ocean of love, infinite, cannot be drained,
A river of kindness, vast, seems hard to cross.
Where, oh where, is the realm of ultimate peace?
The ultimate peace is here, clearly defined, without doubt.

Scene of Autumn

The sound of the flute, a few drops of dew fall,

Who is clever enough to paint this sparse scene?

The ancient tree's canopy, thick and full of green,

The wide river, calm and untouched by the breeze.

The distant hills, the land wrapped in a mist of wine,

The pouch of wind and moon heavy with poetry,

For it seems the scene itself also loves people, doesn't it?

Who could see this scene and not be lost in awe?

Source:

• Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sủng, *Việt văn diễn giảng hậu bán thế kỷ thứ XIX*, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến Publishing, Hanoi, 1953.
• *Văn đàn bảo giám*, NXB Văn học, 2004.

At the Ngang Pass

As I step up to the Ngang Pass, the late afternoon shadows fall,
The grass and trees crowd the stones, and flowers crowd the leaves.
Bent over at the foot of the mountain, a few woodcutters pass by,
Scattered houses along the river, barely visible.
Thinking of my homeland, my heart aches as the cuckoo cries,
Missing my family, my voice weak with sorrow.
I pause for a moment, taking in the sky, the mountains, the river,
Just a piece of my own feelings, it’s only me here.

Source:

• Việt văn diễn giảng hậu bán thế kỷ thứ XIX, Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến xuất bản, Hà Nội, 1953.
• Văn đàn bảo giám, NXB Văn học, 2004.
• Thử bàn về vấn đề phiên Nôm, Nguyễn Ngọc San, Hội nghị Quốc tế về chữ Nôm, 11-2004.

The Remembrance of Thăng Long

What has fate conjured in this grand spectacle?
The years pass by so swiftly, just a few morning dews.
The old roads once filled with horses and carriages now lie still,
The foundations of the ancient palace bathed in the evening sun.
The stones stand unmoved, enduring through the ages,
The waters reflect the sorrow of time gone by.
A thousand years of the old mirror reflecting the past and present,
The scene is here, but the people are long gone, filled with grief.

Some versions record the title as "The Ancient Remembrance".

Source:

• Việt văn diễn giảng hậu bán thế kỷ thứ XIX, Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến xuất bản, Hà Nội, 1953.
• Văn đàn bảo giám, NXB Văn học, 2004.

Homesick at Evening

The golden light spreads over the western mountains, shadows fall gently,
The grass waves, and the flowers scatter like snowflakes.
Thousands of birds return to their nests, scattering the branches,
Along the willow-lined path, a traveler feels the longing for home.
The shrill sound of the horn echoes in the empty wilderness,
The fishing nets fly, swept by the winds along the sandy shore.
My heart aches for my homeland, as if a step brings sorrow,
Do those who are deeply attached understand this feeling?

The title in "Văn đàn bảo giám" is recorded as "Longing for Home".

Source:

• Việt Nam thi văn hợp tuyển, Dương Quảng Hàm, Bộ Quốc gia Giáo dục xuất bản, Hà Nội, 1951.
• Việt văn diễn giảng hậu bán thế kỷ thứ XIX, Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến xuất bản, Hà Nội, 1953.
• Văn đàn bảo giám, NXB Văn học, 2004.