Top 10 Greatest Poems by Han Mac Tu

That night, once again, I stayed awake with the moon

The rain outside the window hid the eternal form

Loneliness! Yes, it seems, it's a quiet solitude

That night was mine alone – A realm of forgetfulness!

I return to myself those hesitations

I return the person – here are the doubts

A silent private world locked tight with a key

Out there, others rejoice in the dust of life.

The cold wind of early winter bites mercilessly

All around, gathering in a world of nothingness

I listen – Yes, I listen to my own weeping

Why exist? Only to choke with grief.

- Han Mac Tu -

The blood has dried, and so has the poetry

Our love died prematurely in past battles

From now on, in the winds and rains

The sorrowful words echo through the dreams

I still hold fondness for so many people

The fleeting beauty of a bygone era

Full of tears, full of grief, full of despair

Oh! Now in its final moments, ready to split apart.

I release my soul in this very moment

The infinite sorrowful wind mourns in the trees

And you, how can you remain unaware?

Let my death be mourned for a thousand years.

- Han Mac Tu -

Oh heavens, when will I cease to exist?

When will I no longer be loved?

When will the sun set and turn into blood,

And my heart solidify like stone?

They’ve all gone, no way to call them back,

The love was never enough, the affection never lasting...

As they leave, half of my soul departs,

And half of my soul becomes foolish and lost.

Am I still here, or am I elsewhere?

Who has abandoned me beneath this deep sky?

Why do the phoenix flowers bloom in blood’s hue,

Falling like pearls upon my soul?

- Han Mac Tu -

Tonight, the stars sparkle endlessly

The Mekong River pushes the waves on and on

My boat drifts aimlessly in the solitude

Are you there yet, have you reached the shore of your heart?

The couple’s dream stirs, as my heart beats faster

My boat moors before the banks of Han River

But as the moon and stars fade into silver,

The dream disappears, and I see the incense smoke fading.

- Han Mac Tu -

My heart is more sorrowful than the cold season,

More sorrowful than the sadness of the clouds and rain,

Of broken love and unfinished fates,

Of the mournful sighs of the autumn breeze.

I accept what comes without protest,

A sacred grace bestowed from the heavens,

In the form of a cry that leaves me dizzy and lost,

With a heart and lungs burning with fever.

And the waves of sadness rise, drowning my soul,

Spreading to the shores of a newlywed dream.

A broken smile at the corner of my lips,

Is a promise, oh, a promise that withers away.

- Han Mac Tu -

Do not speak my name aloud

For the wind can hear it, whispering through the flowers

Our secrets have been exposed

Without ever saying goodbye on the morrow

Never once have we read the words of parting.

Tonight, suddenly, beneath the moon’s shadow

My body bends low, like the willow’s graceful form

My vow, turning deep blue, like some mysterious spell

Longing fills the heart of a traveler in a dream

The merciful sky weeps, sending mist

Again the wind stirs, shaking the soul in the leaves

The moon falters, flowers wither and fall

I sense that at this very moment, you faint

How deeply you suffer, my dear! This mad love

Too wild, turning the clouds into an awkward haze

But those moments of longing have passed

I see the moon quietly settle on a high branch

At this very hour, while you dream

At this very moment, I am loving you truly

Please, enter your soul into the moon’s shadow.

- Han Mac Tu -

White clouds drift aimlessly across the sky

My life has been lost in wandering for as long as I can remember

I go, I go... endlessly to an unknown place

Seeking the extraordinary, chasing dreams

Far away, do you know?

The sun and rain have passed many days

A smile with a bittersweet taste, like mocking

Mocking the changing nature of love

In this world of dust and wind, I roam

My stomach is empty, my teeth chattering from the cold

There’s no house to rest at

For I am but a poor soul without riches

At night, I sleep in a small hut made of grass

A place for travelers to rest their weary feet

Until the morning comes and I rise again

To depart with a dream yet unfulfilled.

- Han Mac Tu -

Why don’t you come visit the village of Vi Da?

Look at the sunshine on the areca trees as it rises

Whose garden is so lush, green like jade?

The bamboo leaves shade the rectangular path

The wind follows its way, the clouds drift along theirs

The river’s current is languid, the cornflowers sway

Whose boat is docked at the moonlit riverbank?

Is it bringing the moon back before night falls?

Dreaming of travelers, distant travelers

Your white dress is so bright, I can barely see you...

Here, the mist shrouds the figures

Who knows if love here is deep and true?

- Han Mac Tu -

This sacred moment has just begun,

The sky dreams in a truly mystical way.

The moon and stars, lost in pale mist,

As if welcoming from afar a poetic thought.

Let all be silent, speak no more,

So we can hear the lake’s soft murmur.

To hear the willow’s tendrils shiver in the wind,

And to witness the sky explain the meaning of love.

The pine trees flicker, standing still in the quiet,

With branches casting shadows, as if sinking into silence.

How can we tell the difference between illusion and reality?

The Milky Way rises, piercing the night.

The whole sky intoxicated in moonlight,

And my heart, too, says nothing.

Not a sound disturbs the silence,

Not even the breaking of a shooting star!

- Han Mac Tu -

I cast myself into the winds and moonlight

My heart scattered across the four corners of the sky

Beyond the heavens lies an unknown, distant place

How can the swallow ever reach there?

A boat carries the entire moonlit night

Countless stars shine, blazing a direct path

Endless incense spirals, swaying in confusion

Millions of gods reside in their lofty realm.

Oh, this moment, an unearthly bliss!

My love is consumed by boundless jealousy

Who gives jewels or a radiant appearance?

The tongue is dry, and all desires have withered.

- Han Mac Tu -