1. Poem: Love of the Island Soldier - Trịnh Thanh Hằng
LOVE OF THE ISLAND SOLDIER
Poem by: Trịnh Thanh Hằng
The sea is so calm today, with gentle waves
On Sinh Tồn Island, who is waiting for whom?
The distance between us makes the longing feel endless
My love for you carried by the waves
The island soldier swears a life of devotion
To love you, yet never be near
On the salty sea, each step I take
All my longing is sent through the waves
To love an island soldier is to love hope
Filled with sacrifices, longings, and worries
Surely, this Lunar New Year, I won’t make it home
All my yearning follows the ocean breeze
I send you my tears from the first farewell
I send you the fragrance of my hair, flowing down
I send you my love through the long nights
My love, I send my heart to you, the soldier of the sea
On this distant island, your image appears
Amidst the fierce waves of the vast ocean
Three years have passed, and I’ve not seen my beloved
All my love is buried deep in the sands
But one day, when the sky is wide and clear
I will return and give you all my love
I will hold your hand, and we’ll make our vows
Wait for me, please wait for me.
Poem by Trịnh Thanh Hằng


2. Poem: The Soldier - Nguyễn Thái Cơ
THE SOLDIER
Author: NGUYỄN THÁI CƠ
I love the island soldier of Trường Sa
With his gun held high, standing strong in the sky
The waves crash and the winds blow, yet he does not falter
Through hardship and struggle, he still loves life
Unintentionally, the wind brushes my cheek
A flutter of emotions in the middle of the night
I imagined him kissing from the vast sea
Whispering softly, touching my heart
Through the clouds, I send my feelings of affection
Relying on the wind to carry my words to the distant island
Sending my whole heart, longing for you
To you, the soldier of Trường Sa.
Nguyễn Thái Cơ


3. Poem: The Love Story of the Sea 02 - Phan Trung
THE LOVE STORY OF THE SEA 02
SIMPLE HAPPINESS...!
Poem by: Phan Trung
The sea’s love is as beautiful as a fairy tale
Bringing the mainland and the islands closer
In love, there are always magical things
Little children born with deep affection
Summer arrives in Trường Sa, filled with the scent of sunshine
The wind whispers, and the leaves of the sea almond tree bloom
In him, a yearning that never fades
The wife he cherishes, whom he always remembers
All the longing now feels like a dream come true
You’ve arrived, unexpectedly, carried by the waves
The sound of a child’s laughter confirms it’s real
He rushes to embrace you, his beloved
A long, passionate kiss that seems endless
Only the child knows where it all began
The waves softly whisper
Our happiness is thanks to them, my dear
Hand in hand, we stroll as the evening falls
He whispers sweet words of love
Let’s have another child, so we’re a pair
You smile and softly reply... yes, my love...!


4. Poem: Waiting for You - Trần Diệu Hương
WAITING FOR YOU
Poem by: Trần Diệu Hương
In autumn, the heart aches with longing
Fate is intertwined with my love for you
Sweet passion fuels my dreams
Hoping to share happiness with you, forever.
A whirlwind of emotions
Pushes my heart to love you deeply
Our dreams are endless, filled with hope
Two hearts, waiting to build a life together.
The verses are full of longing
As our lips meet in a tender kiss
Bound by love, we share our destiny
In Sinh Tồn, on the distant islands, I wait for you.


5. Poem: A Little Love from the Island - Lê Giáp
A LITTLE LOVE FROM THE ISLAND
Lê Giáp
On the island, day and night, I stand guard
The waves sing lullabies of the homeland
The enemy lurks, watching every hour
But my love for the nation runs deep and strong
I hold my rifle here, through many lonely nights
Thinking of you, silently enduring the long waits
Though distance separates us, our love remains
For the happiness of a brighter tomorrow
The storms of the sea, and our unwavering will
Are like two forces that never part
Outside, in the dead of night, the enemy retreats
Defeated and humbled, they bow their heads
From the windswept Trường Sa, I send you my love
A little piece of my heart, dreaming of you
Just a small part, but enough to warm your lips
I carefully wrap it in a soft, poetic verse for you
Oh, Vietnam! Sacred and beautiful
Four thousand years of heroic blood flowing through its veins
Our love is only meaningful because it joins
In the great happiness shared by our people!
Thanh Hoá 06/02/2018


6. Poem: The Journey to Protect the Islands - Tran Ngoc Hoa
THE JOURNEY TO PROTECT THE ISLANDS
Poem by: Tran Ngoc Hoa
During the season of trade winds, at Cam Ranh Port
Farewells are said, as people head out to protect the islands
Beyond Truong Sa, fierce storms are common
The tides rise, waves crash toward the mainland
In the frontline archipelago, a vital part of our homeland
We've witnessed countless goodbyes, as men sail to sea
The island is home, the sea is our land
Out there, the islands feel like a battlefield
The hardships are real, with enemies always lurking
We still mourn the loss of Hoang Sa
As invaders like Bao Quyen attempt to seize Truong Sa
Hoang Sa - Truong Sa are ours, part of our nation
Our sacred sovereignty must be upheld for eternity
The naval soldiers are immortalized
Ready to sacrifice, to protect the islands until the end
Oh Vietnam! A steadfast country
Going to protect the islands is like taking turns on guard duty
New soldiers, unfamiliar with the storms
Those returning, hope the sea will calm
Truong Sa, etched in our hearts as the Fatherland
Made of blood and bones, scattered across thousands of small islands
The red and gold flag flutters in the breeze
Shining brightly in the vast sea, the land of Lac Hong.
Cam Ranh - Trade Wind Season, 1994.


7. Poem: The Island Soldier - Nguyen Lan Huong
THE ISLAND SOLDIER
Poem by: Nguyen Lan Huong
Where he stands, the sky is vast, the winds are strong
Amidst the endless waves of the ocean
Facing danger, yet his heart remains resolute
With his hand steady on the rifle, he maintains unwavering determination.
He stands guard, day and night without rest
His loyalty to protect the seas is steadfast
His silhouette is etched in the clouds and sky
As he listens to the sound of the waves singing to him.
There he stands, under the boundless sky
Ensuring peace for the homeland
Whether in the cold of winter or the scorching heat
He remains unchanged, patrolling tirelessly.
Where he stands, the ocean stretches far away
A letter from home brings memories of his roots
Back in his village, his parents and the girl he promised his heart
Are waiting for him, as he guards the seas.
The island soldier departs for the country
With noble ideals to fulfill his dreams
The entire homeland sings songs of pride
We love you, O Island Soldier!


8. Poem: Thank You, Navy Soldier - Thanh Hieu
THANK YOU, NAVY SOLDIER
Poem by: Thanh Hieu
I feel for the soldier far from home
Living with wind and sand, surrounded by the vast ocean
His only companion is the rifle in hand
Years pass without a single meeting with his love
The days fade, taking his youthful years
His hair grays, his skin darkens from the sun
No scale can measure his sacrifice
He endures the sun and rain to protect the borders
Living, breathing for the blue sky above
Many sleepless nights he faces
Strategizing to quickly eliminate the enemy
Uniting from his team to his unit
One heart, always defending despite the odds
Singing to forget the hardship
For a peaceful country, his face bears the marks of time
The golden star, red flag fly high
VIETNAM, a country flourishing every day
Soldiers and citizens united in duty and love
Forever thriving, as the dawn shines bright.


9. Poem: I Love You, Navy Soldier - Thoai Yen
I LOVE YOU, NAVY SOLDIER
Poem by: Thoai Yen
I love the soldier stationed on a distant island
Living with wind and sand, the ocean as a companion at night
At times, I yearn for the tender touch of my love
The warmth of their lips, the softness of their gaze
Years have passed on the battlefield
Far from father, mother, and the scent of her hair
Enduring the solitude and struggles alone
With one heart dedicated to protecting the peaceful village
Though his face may appear gentle
His spirit is courageous and his resolve unyielding
His mind is full of tactics and strategies
Neither the sun nor rain can weaken his youthful energy
The soldier’s service is invaluable
He defends the borders and drives out invaders
In fleeting moments, he dreams and longs
Hoping his beloved waits for his return
He hides his deep affection, silently cherishing it
Meanwhile, foreign invaders continue to covet the land
He wants her to remain strong and resolute
To share the same purpose, united in love
He gives his youth for this cause
And dreams of a peaceful future for them both.


10. Poem: The Heartfelt Sorrows of the Island Soldier - Poem by: Pham Van Chuong
THE HEARTFELT SORROWS OF THE ISLAND SOLDIER
Poem by: Pham Van Chuong
He sets down his pen, and leaves for military service
Far from the school, where the willows hang low and weep
Farewell to you, my love, and the lecture hall
Off to guard the borders of the distant islands.
In that faraway place, the waves roar in the storms
He thinks of home, and his mother, tirelessly working every day
As winter arrives, the cold winds stir the air
He feels for his mother, waiting for him by the door, preparing his meal.
Mother, oh mother! I had no choice but to go
In my youth, with dreams of defending our land
And now, your shoulders bear the weight of my absence
Through all the hardships of this cold, winter evening.
I send my words to the wind, when you’re free
To visit home and ease the solitude
And with my mother, share a peaceful moment in the fading light
To ease the loneliness in her heart.
This hope you give me makes me stronger
Guarding the skies and seas, while you wait with my love
Though I’m not there, I know my absence reaches you
And my presence is forever with you, even across the ocean.


11. Poem: To You, the Island Soldier - Poem by: Phan Thi Thoa
TO YOU, THE ISLAND SOLDIER
Poem by: Phan Thi Thoa
Oh, my beloved island soldier
My heart aches for you, enduring countless storms and hardships
Your unwavering resolve, despite the endless challenges
Determined to protect the borders of our homeland
Leaving behind your family, far away
Your youth is devoted to the call of duty
Without a thought for the personal costs
The islands are your home, surrounded by crashing waves
Dedicated to ensuring peace for the nation
Day and night, with your rifle, you watch over the seas and skies
Oh, my island soldier, my love for you grows
Sending you thousands of loving words
May you remain strong and resilient
And always be blessed with good fortune on the path ahead.


12. Poem: I Am the Naval Soldier - Poem by: Duyen Nguyen
I AM THE NAVAL SOLDIER
Poem by: Duyen Nguyen
I left my homeland to attend the academy
Thinking of my family, my heart heavy with longing
At barely twenty, far from home
Yet learning to stand strong in a foreign land
Always striving to hone my character
Overcoming challenges, determined to succeed
With friends, we share a common bond
Walking together, with pride and honor
The life of a soldier, ready to face anything
We share the struggles and help each other
In adversity, we still hold strong
Our hearts loyal, true to our cause
We strive to protect the peace of our homeland
So that the people may live in safety
We drive away the enemies, quelling their threats
Bringing joy to the whole nation.


13. Poem: The Soldier's Heart - By Ho Viet Binh
THE SOLDIER'S HEART
By Ho Viet Binh
Today, I left for the island
Farewell, my bride whom I married just yesterday
Your tears streamed down, tracing your cheeks
Wetting my shoulders, soaking my heart with sorrow.
My dear, the islands are extraordinarily beautiful
Your ship drifts serenely upon the sea
The island is my home, the deep blue sea is my homeland
Yet, there are those who never stop causing trouble.
They attack the fishermen's boats at sea
But with you guarding the waves, peace is restored
The sea and you are the two loves of my life
I miss you deeply, but the sea will never be forgotten.
Now far from you, my heart is filled with longing
I will return and write more verses for you
On the front lines, I dream of you every night
When I return, my child will run to greet me.


14. Poem: The Sea's Love Story 01 - By Phan Trung
THE SEA'S LOVE STORY 01
By Phan Trung
In the pages of my journal, our love is written
We were not each other's first love
Once, you loved deeply
But that love was lost, carried away by the waves.
I am a soldier on the remote island of Spratly
At sunset, I gaze at the waves, far and wide
I too have loved, though that love was never fully realized
Now, I collect the sadness you let go of in the sea.
A sad love story follows the waves to Spratly
I gather it, thinking it's a new fate
My heart believes this is destiny's gift
For us, a pair bound by the threads of fate.
The wheel of fate turns... it changes our world
Our love ignites with a touch of awkwardness
We send promises through the storms
What fear is there when love is forever burning?
Tomorrow, in the beautiful morning sunlight
I will come to you with all my love
A wedding, a reminder of our love
Our happiness feels like a dream come true...!


15. Poem: At the Crest of the Waves - By Hoàng Như Phượng
AT THE CREST OF THE WAVES
By Hoàng Như Phượng
Yesterday, you visited the sea
The waves, full of stories, spoke of faraway islands
At the crest of the waves, the wind feels like home
As you stand guard amidst the storm and fury.
The square tree shades you from the sun
The waves gently sing, lapping against the boat
Ensuring peace for our homeland
The national flag flutters proudly in every corner.
As the sun rises, bringing a new day
The boats set sail, casting their nets far and wide
The shimmering catch, as beautiful as flowers
Glows brightly under the morning sun.
Yet, there are times when the waves roar and struggle
Rising fiercely, shaking the heart
The sea strains to clear the murky waters
So the waves can rest, no longer torn apart.
Just like you, who always turns toward the Motherland
Nurturing love and overlooking the hardships
Standing side by side, sharing the burdens
Protecting the homeland, despite all difficulties...
Listening to the waves, my heart leaps with joy
The sea embraces my heart fully
I send my love to you, across the sea
Forever cherishing the children of the sea.
HNP - 8/9/2018


