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1. Đà Lạt Moonlight
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
This sacred moment has begun,
The sky dreams in a truly mystical scene.
The moon and stars are entranced in the mist,
As though waiting from afar for a poetic thought.
Let silence reign, do not speak too much,
To listen to the sound at the bottom of the lake.
To hear the willow's threads shiver in the breeze,
And to witness the sky unravel the meaning of love.
The pines shimmer still in silence,
Branches and leaves shadowed as if they were sinking.
What is real, what is illusion, how can one tell?
The Milky Way rises amidst the dark of night.
The whole sky intoxicated, bathed in moonlight,
And my heart too, though it says nothing.
No sound disturbs, no motion stirs,
Not even the breaking of a falling star!
2. Golden Moon, Jade Moon
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
Moon! Moon! Moon! It is Moon, Moon, Moon!
Who buys the moon, I sell the moon!
Not selling reunion, not selling promises...
When will I return victorious, glorified?
Come back to me, I’ll trade you a poem.
No, No, No! I don’t sell the soul of the Moon.
I’m pretending, you think I mean it,
But I speak truthfully, you are too naive:
Golden Moon, Jade Moon, how could they be for sale?
Moon! Moon! Moon! It is Moon, Moon, Moon!
The bright moon shines everywhere,
I am praying for my moon,
I count beads for my moon,
My moon is the Moon of Radiance.
Moon! Moon! Moon! It is Moon, Moon, Moon!
3. A Realm of Forgetfulness
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
That night, again, I stay awake with the moon
Rain outside, cold, veiling the eternal image
Loneliness! Yes, perhaps, a deep solitude
That night is mine alone – A realm of forgetfulness!
I return to myself the hesitations
Return the person – here, the uncertainties
The silent world locks its doors tight
Out there, others rejoice in the mundane world.
The chill of the early winter wind stings harshly
All around, everything gathers into a void
I listen – I, yes, listen to my own tears
What is the use of existing? Just a suffocating heart.
4. To Live in Suffering and Struggle
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
Why do I see life flooded with blood
Like a battlefield in chaos?
Why do I see the people in misery,
Under the shining glare of the sun?
How tiresome! A life of suffering!
The mountains and rivers, rain, wind,
The heavens and earth, in a state of confusion.
The clouds cover the sky in gloom and haze,
As if vanishing into the realm of dreams.
There is the vast sea, there is the roaring river,
Like a complaint, a protest to the High Heavens…
Those who are full of pride for their talent,
In these circumstances, should strive forward.
Yes, strive, even if the path is full of blood,
Be brave, step forward, undaunted.
Crush down the obstacles of nature,
Which are like the thorns along the way.
Be resolute in your progress,
If your will is firm, the obstacles will falter.
Then all the pain and bitterness
Will slowly fade and disappear.
Then the heavens and earth will shine brightly,
Bringing back the clear and fresh air.
The bitterness will vanish, leaving peace,
The waves of hatred calm upon the shore,
No more lamenting about the world's suffering,
Is this what the wise man must ask?
5. On Tràng Tiền Bridge
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
The procession of carriages passes by
Men with women
Countless girls in purple áo
Skin as white as porcelain...
The fluttering áo, swaying in the wind
Gazing upon it, one is struck with wonder
The young girl blushes, shyly,
Her hair blowing in the breeze...
The procession of carriages passes by
Young officials and old ones
Carefree in their brocade robes
With ivory tablets hanging on their chests...
Wandering by the roadside
The young man in his plain garment
The weather neither rainy nor sunny
Occasionally, he unfurls his umbrella
The procession of carriages passes by
French ships and Chinese junks
Oh, there’s the 'dirty girl'
With hair scattered like a rooster’s tail...
6. Golden Sunshine
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
To be enchanted by the moon is to be in love with purity
To be fascinated by the golden sunlight is like a harmonious union of hearts.
Expose your heart, let the breeze sway your clothes
In every word, add depth to its meaning
Spring on your cheeks, poetic thoughts deeply felt
Sweet dreams, like ripe gac fruit in the season’s aroma.
The lady walks on, I cast the string of affection
It will flutter on her lips, always quick to smile,
The sun’s warmth will linger, and her thoughts will falter,
Her will may move, but her feet are tangled in the threads of love...
Her lips are uncertain, unable to speak too much
Feeling shy, as birds soar along the road
She is intoxicated by the sun, or is the sun inebriated by her poetic whispers?
A ha ha! In just a moment of enchantment!
Breathing in the fragrance, powered by electric currents of love
I’ve shaped a spring season of purity.
This spring is my deep longing.
Madly in love, bewildered by my passion
Oh my, in the golden sunlight, the air is filled with fragrance...
7. Late Night in the Countryside
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
The straw hut is cold, with the hours passing by,
The grass and trees are chilled, how cold is the sky?
I open the door to gaze at the moon, its face pale,
Lock the door, light the candle, and watch it melt away.
In a dream, I glimpse the shadows of Dao Trì cave,
Imagining the soul playing the water harp.
Five fingers press the silk threads, composing a tune,
The wind forgets to sigh, the crickets forget their sorrow.
8. What is the poetic style of Hàn Mặc Tử?
Hàn Mặc Tử (1912-1940) is one of the renowned poets of the New Poetry movement in Vietnam. His poetic style is unique and diverse, shown through the following characteristics:
- Sadness and Suffering
- Hàn Mặc Tử endured much hardship in his life, especially illness (leprosy) and unfulfilled love. This deeply influenced his poetry, making many of his works sorrowful and tragic.
- For instance: "Đây thôn Vỹ Dạ" with lines like "Why don't you return to visit Vỹ Village?" and "I dream of travelers from afar."
- Surreal and Mysterious Imagery
- Hàn Mặc Tử's poems often feature bizarre, surreal, and mystical imagery, creating a dreamy and extraordinary world.
- For example: "The moon lies sprawled on the willow branch, waiting for the winter wind to sway." from "Đây thôn Vỹ Dạ".
- Convergence of Reality and Dreams
- Hàn Mặc Tử’s poetry frequently shows the blend of harsh reality and the beautiful dreamlike world.
- For example: "The wind blows this way, the clouds follow that way" in "Đây thôn Vỹ Dạ" reflects the divide between reality and fantasy.
- Lyrical and Romantic Language
- The language in Hàn Mặc Tử’s poetry is often lyrical, romantic, and full of emotion.
- For example: "One half of my soul is lost when you leave, the other half becomes foolish" from "The Drops of Tears".
- Influence of Nature
- Nature is a significant source of inspiration in Hàn Mặc Tử’s poetry, often described with vivid emotions and connected to his inner feelings.
- For example: "Tonight the river is cold and distant" and "The moon on the high hill, the wind blowing" in his poems.
- Religious and Spiritual Themes
- Hàn Mặc Tử also wrote many poems related to religion, particularly Christianity, reflecting his deep faith.
- For example: "Lord, my Lord! I abandon my life... Do You know?" from "Ave Maria".
- Expressions of Life and Death
- Hàn Mặc Tử’s poetry reflects his contemplation of life and death, mirroring his internal struggles with his illness and fate.
- For example: "I suffer from love’s pain, and the agony of separation... I die tonight" from "Mad Poetry".
- Diverse Poetic Style
- Hàn Mặc Tử had a versatile poetic style, ranging from lyrical and romantic poems to religious-themed ones, from realistic to surreal pieces.
- For example: the transition from lyrical poetry in "Đây thôn Vỹ Dạ" to surrealism in "Mùa xuân chín".
Hàn Mặc Tử left a deep mark on Vietnamese literature with his unique poetic style and emotional works. His poetry not only reflects his tragic life but also opens up dreamy, mysterious, and emotionally charged poetic spaces.
9. Đậy thôn Vỹ Dạ
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
Why don't you come back to visit Vỹ village?
Look at the sunlight shining through the areca trees.
Whose garden is so lush, green like jade?
The bamboo leaves shield a square face.
The wind follows the wind, the clouds follow the clouds,
The water flows sadly, the cornflowers sway...
Whose boat is moored at the moonlit riverbank?
Is it carrying the moon back by tonight?
I dream of travelers from afar, travelers from afar,
Your white dress is so bright I can't see clearly...
Here, mist and smoke blur the figures,
Who knows if love is deep?
10. The Ripe Spring
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
In the glowing sunlight, the mist of dreams fades,
The thatched roofs gleam with golden spots.
The wind rustles, teasing the blue dress,
On the passionflower vine, spring’s shadow approaches.
The waves of green grass ripple toward the sky,
Many village girls sing on the hill;
- Tomorrow, among this youthful spring crowd,
One will follow her husband, leaving the carefree life...
The singing voice hangs on the mountainside,
Breathing heavily like the words of the clouds and water,
Whispering to someone sitting beneath the bamboo,
Revealing meaning and innocent poetry...
When a visitor arrives during the ripe spring,
The heart stirs with memories of the village:
- "Is she still carrying rice this year,
Along the white riverbank, bathed in the scorching sun?"
11. Tears
Author: Hàn Mặc Tử
Oh heavens, when will I die?
When will I cease to be loved?
When will the sun’s rays turn into blood,
And my heart turn as hard as stone?
They’ve gone, and I can’t bring them back,
The love isn’t fulfilled, the affection doesn’t fade...
They left, and half of my soul was lost,
The other half turned suddenly foolish.
Am I still here or somewhere else?
Who left me under this deep sky?
Why do the flamboyant flowers bloom in blood's hue,
Falling upon my heart, like drops of pearl?
