Top 20 Best Poems by Poet Tống Thu Ngân

THE POEM WRITTEN ON LUONG SON BAC MOUNTAIN

On Luong Son Bac mountain, I sit listening to the howling wind
The sky full of clouds, the mournful song of love calls
The great forest calls out with such intense passion
The evening mist, oh how nostalgic it feels

I sit here under the old oak tree
And tell stories of the beloved great forest
I still enjoy the sound of the wind in the clouds
Waiting for the rain to fall on the vast wilderness

I have grown accustomed to the cool green forest
Accustomed to the elephants eating ripe mangoes, sweet jackfruit
Accustomed to the winding roads up Luong Son Bac mountain
Accustomed to playing chess with one hundred and eight heroes

The squirrels and wild boars
Come visit me each night for a reunion
Enjoying the magical fun with the green forest
The golden deer gather closely without leaving

I still enjoy the nights under the moon
With Cuoi the immortal and Hang Nga playing and teasing
The air fragrant with the scent of longan
Remembering the magical love with Kinh Kha...

The cicadas sing loudly next to the Ô Sa Ka
The flowers bloom and sway in the wind
Luong Son Bac is beautiful on those windy days
The sầu riêng flower blooms, white all spring

The yellow apricot flowers cover the path
The soul remembers the horse galloping with force
The chrysanthemums tonight keep secrets
The fragrance of orchids moistens with love's dew

Luong Son Bac is so beautiful on those afternoons
By the stream, catching fish, crabs
So beautiful those afternoons of living wild
In the great forest, the vast heavens and earth

In the midst of love, my heart opens wide
The peacock spreads its wings, dancing in joy
Happiness is here, between the butterflies and flowers
I dream of sleeping on Luong Son Bac mountain...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 1076

THE VILLAGE MARKET

(Ngụ Ngôn Tình)

1_
The village market has an unknown origin
Just a few pumpkins and a basket of shrimp paste
The village market doesn't need much
A few mud crabs, tangerines, and betel nuts

2_
The village market is just a place to meet
A few bống fish with onions
The village market has fresh and cool air
The canal flows quietly, the herbs grow beside

3_
The village market has just one boat
With a three-leaf paddle, happily singing
The village market is where people fall in love
Both sell and buy, happily within the village

4_
The village market sells a few turmeric roots
Sells five bundles of lemongrass, selling love in the end of the season
Sells tamarind to cook sour soup
Sells ducks that have been through several dry seasons

5_
Sells three bushels of dried rice
Saved to make seeds, to build barns and beds of straw
Sells a bunch of anchovies
To make pickled fish for dinner with mom

6_
The village market sells a bunch of bananas
Sells three grapefruits, a lot of mustard greens
Sells a few bottles of coconut oil
In the season when the hair goes dry, promising the lover

7_
The village market sells the giang leaves
Ground crab for a lover's soup
The crowing rooster with lime leaves
The piglet saved to welcome the bride

8_
The village market is where the rain falls unevenly
Your purple dress, a color remembering me
Three dong of star fruit, four dong of lemon
I owe you a bunch of greens at the end of the season

9_
The village market turns cold with the winds
You wear a scarf, I buy you a wooden bracelet
After buying, I keep looking for you
I will take you back to the riverbank of love

10_
Sell star fruit, buy grapefruit
Picking leaves from the tree that is hanging beside you
Tomorrow we will make pancakes
Frying them over and over, but we are poor together

11_
At the beginning of spring, I pick a betel nut
The offering tray to meet mom and dad
The village market is truly a place for trading
Where love and friendship are kept before and after

12_
The village market sells jars of colored water
Sells three kinds of crabs, sells fresh squid
The village market is where people exchange smiles
Neighbors gather, the place is full of joy

13_
The village market sells thinly sliced meat
Betel nuts and a packet of sticky rice and fried cakes
The village market is by the bamboo roots
By the dry coconut creek, by the rice fields singing

14_
Next year I will spend money on a small boat
We will row together and pick lotus flowers
Then I will pray to Buddha to bring you back
We will live together, hand in hand

15_
On our wedding day, the drum beats loudly
Both sides of the family sit together
The village market brings the bond of love
The village builds ties with friendship and warmth...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 512

JANUARY, YOUR HAIR SMELLS OF YOUNG RICE

Your hair smells of fresh young rice
Your hair smells of newly sprouted paddy
The rice grows thick, spreading a sweet fragrance
In the early morning, waking up with the fog

Plum blossoms, lemon flowers, and rosy blooms
In the early morning, you rush out the door
Greeting the cheerful myna bird's song
Greeting the sunrise from every direction

There will be nothing to linger over
The purple flowers will no longer bloom
We won't walk the same road again
On mornings... whispered... in the mist

Your hair still smells of young rice
Your mother's scent remains crisp and sweet
How can I forget the countryside
Why do my eyes always widen in awe

How can I forget beneath the tamarind trees
How can I forget your conical hat
How can I forget your radiant smile
I pick stars from the sky and fill the boat

In January, you wear a golden silk dress
In January, the sound of your laughter fills the air
In January, everything is gathered under the sun
Your hair smells of young rice...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 304

HÁI VỘI NHÁNH BUỒN - BÀI THƠ TÌNH THỨ TÁM TRĂM

Hái vội nhánh buồn quẳng ra sông
Cho dòng nước ngược chảy vào lòng
Thế gian rộng quá mà sao hẹp
Nên để nổi buồn chảy vào trong

Hái vội nhánh buồn - buồn mênh mông
Tình đời như một - một dòng sông
Trôi ra biển lớn trăm đầu sóng
Có ngọn sóng buồn tựa thinh không

Hái vội nhánh buồn ép vào tim
Trần gian ta vội vã đi tìm
Trăm con chim nhạn về chấp chới
Có một con mèo ngủ lim dim

Hái vội nhánh buồn - ta tặng ta
Thế gian vẫn thế cứ gọi là
Đi tìm tri kỷ bao năm nữa
Một giấc chiêm bao quá lụa là

Hái vội nhánh buồn - ta với ta
Tìm trong giấc ngủ chút mặn mà
Trăm sông đều đổ về biển cả
Còn một chút gì của riêng ta

Hái vội nhánh buồn nghe chơi vơi
Trách chi đen bạc của tình đời
Quẳng hết ra sông - ta quẳng hết
Chỉ giữ riêng mình một chiều rơi...

TỐNG THU NGÂN - 800

A SIMPLE SOUP
(Ngụ Ngôn Tình)

Let’s go picking greens, my dear
Hurry up, pick them fast, then we’ll head back home
The hunger for food in the rural evening
Don’t mock me as I peel the bitter melon with care

When I cut the Malabar spinach
I’ll gather more wild vegetables and bring them back
The shrimp soup smells good, I’m craving it
Adding all the seasonings, don’t forget the fish sauce

Destiny brought us together, as husband and wife
We share a big bowl of rice, carrying it to the fields
We are from a poor family
But we’ve got a love that will last a lifetime

Even though things change in life
I’ll always keep my promise to you
As the winds of seasons blow, the love grows stronger
I’ll be out working late into the night, but I’ll return to you

The simple soup is still made from the earth
Even though the rice is cold, I’ll still return with joy
The simple soup is filled with bittersweet moments
But with the shrimp soup, we’ll smile together...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 1046

LET THE GRAPES REMAIN GREEN
(Ngụ Ngôn Tình)

Oh dear... let the grapes remain green
The fox here doesn't like clinging to branches
High branches? No! I search for lower ones
Oh dear... let the grapes remain green

Well then, I'll wander around
The vineyard has so many grapevines
I stretch my hand and touch them
The fox thinks of itself as quite clever

Oh... these vines are so high, so high
Well, let me find some lower vines
Oh dear... the grapes are still unripe
Why pick them in haste... these green fruits?

The fox wandered through the vineyard
Reaching both high and low in every way
This world is trickier than anything
The ripened grapes, still not ready to pick

Running back and forth, the fox sits
Thinking of ways to pick the grapes
Why aren't those grapes ripe yet?
Ah... no, the tempting bunches are still green

The fox with endless thoughts about those grapes
Thinking back and forth, trying many tricks
Just some sly tricks, like the cat's and monkey's
The old fox dreams of the green bunches

Lying beneath the vines, it thought
Well, I don't need those grapes after all
Green grapes are too sour, oh... so sour
The fox lies dreaming, lost in thoughts...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 1032

Inspired by the story of The Fox and the Grapes

TURN AWAY

One day it will happen
You will turn away and forget the past
What is there to smile about? Why should I laugh?
You turn away and forget all regrets

One day, you will leave behind
The tenderness, the love that never fades
The blue sky won't bring you joy
You will forget an entire piece of your dark past

One day, you will hurry forward
Passing through the land of light and dark with shining eyes
Your heart peaceful, with a refreshing breeze
Listening to the lotus bloom in every quiet night

One day, you will decide
To turn away without regret
The small boat cannot sail with the vast sea
You are one day caught in the winds of this world

Your sorrowful burdens weigh on your shoulders
Through storms in days when the boat is broken
After the storm, the days shine brightly
The sun's light illuminates all directions

My dear, with every step on your journey
Leaving behind the foolish ship
Don’t think you’ve made a mistake
For who lost direction for that ship...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 1031

FOR MY CHILD
(A Moral Fable)

I give you these tender buds
Fresh and green upon the branches
Your mother cradles each one with care
For your life to sparkle and shine

I give you the vast, clear sky
With the purest of air to breathe
Your mother gently leads each one
Through lands that bloom with green

Laugh in the sunshine, my dear
As your mother’s life is calm and serene
In a lifetime of planting flowers
She offers the world the sweetest fruit

As summer’s blazing light fills the air
Your little face turns to the sun
Your mother embraces you all
Taking you back to the countryside

Life’s path may have countless turns
But your mother’s hand will never let go
Guiding each of you along the way
Be it daughter or son

My child, plant flowers everywhere
Wherever our steps may lead
Even on arid, barren soil
Sweet blossoms will grow, full of grace

Your mother will still hold your hand
Even as you grow older
She will show you paths full of flowers
Where fragrant blooms and strange grasses await

My child, plant flowers
Offering love to the world
Though the journey may span endless distances
Walk the path with love, unshaken...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 1028

THE MANY STARS THAT SHINE

Countless stars shine bright
In the dreamy night sky
You wander along
And will soon meet your love

The stars are so dear
How beautiful they are
And the loneliness ends
As your feet skip in joy

The stars in the sky are glorious
Shining upon your hair
Falling softly to your shoulders
Glittering... glittering

Oh... the blue sky
You walk so lively
Like a little sparrow
Love is opening its door

Countless stars shine
Opening the gates to paradise
In the middle of eternity
Your hands are tightly clasped

The journey is long
Yet the stars feel so near
Flowers bloom at your feet
You skip joyfully along

Countless stars shine
Lifting your steps higher
Oh... so gently
Your love is ripened and deep

The birds tap their beaks
Feeding each other
The sky is full of stars
Glittering... glittering...
Glittering... glittering...

TỐNG THU NGÂN - 752

THE NIGHT OF CULANTRO

How I miss the scent of culantro
How I long for your long hair
I keep recalling... that night of culantro
The night of culantro... when we walked hand in hand, never parting...

The water along the ditch flows gently
You told me to wait... wait for the night of culantro
Picking the bunch of culantro, I still remember that night
After you left, I stood alone... holding the culantro

How I miss you, I went to the Mai village market
Bought a snakehead fish, bringing culantro back
That sour soup must have culantro
I want you to remember forever the meaning of culantro

The water at Nha Be splits in two
I went back and bought some pineapples to cook with the culantro
While selling the culantro, I also gave some away
Missed a few ferry rides... I still remember holding the culantro...

TỐNG THU NGÂN _ 685

THE LAND OF MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS

Returning to visit my dear maternal homeland
The lotus pond blooms white under the summer sun
Oh, look, the butterflies land on the bamboo
The cicadas chirp loudly as the tamarind tree stands surprised

The breeze of the season still blows gently
The green coconuts spread their hair in the moonlight's dream
The old bamboo will soon sprout new shoots
Grandmother, you will always be here, in that eternal land...

I went to the corners of the earth, under the sky
Still dreaming of you, grandmother, with a life of grace
The poor repay the debts of their ancestors
Grandmother, though poor, still lived humbly, with only vegetable porridge...

I return along the familiar road, uncertain
The afternoon sun leans down on the green vegetable garden, the coffee plot
Grandmother... grandmother is no longer at home
I return to an empty house, crying by the doorstep...

TỐNG THU NGÂN _ 698

THE WOMAN WHO GOES TO PLANT THE FLOWER BEDS
(By Ngụ Ngôn Tình)

The woman goes to plant the flower beds
The whole season full of fragrance and color
She is diligent, hardworking
The flowers always bloom beneath her feet

The woman goes to plant the forest of trees
Her steps tread through the muddy paths
Her hands are rough
But she gives life sweet fruits to the world

The woman gathers and weaves clothes for the trees
Autumn’s fabric embroidered with bright golden chrysanthemums
She gathers all the sunlight and threads it through, weaving her needles
The woman weaves clothes with her heart

The woman gathers rice for the birds
She scatters golden seeds into the winter season, dancing merrily
Her steps light, like the little sparrows
The birds return to rest in the winter garden

The woman walks through the storm
And suddenly, she finds herself reborn
Hearing the birds sing in the welcoming garden
Her hands embrace the blooming flowers of golden hues

The woman and the blooming seasons of flowers
She still smiles, giving all of herself to the world
The flowers bloom bright yellow
Her hands continue to nourish the dreamlike blooms...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 926

I SIT AND KNIT A SWEATER IN THE AUTUMN

I sit and knit a sweater in the autumn
Dust and wind swirl around, the mist thick and silent
I sit and knit, waiting for you
Autumn is here, and your smile is shining bright

The mist rises at the feet of the sky
The calls of birds echo, where have the old ones gone
Familiar are the busy paths
But the past cannot be reached, where the grass bends and the dew falls

Only half a moon remains in the sky
The fragrance of flowers blooms late, their petals damp with dew
The night is long, the air is still
Autumn falls, and the mist weaves gently through the air

I sit and knit a sweater for the world
Love lingers, far from the horizon and the clouds
I sit and knit a sweater for the trees
For the autumn leaves, turning yellow in the wind

I sit and knit a sweater for my husband
The moonlight flickers faintly in the night, thoughts tangled
We have a promise, leaves fall as the season changes
And I will sew a sweater for you in the autumn

Golden thread, silver strands, deep red hues
Adding chrysanthemums to the autumn, radiant in yellow
I knit a sweater for the one I love
Autumn blooms, dreams fade under the moonlight...

TÓNG THU NGÂN - 826

THE FIRST WINTER WIND

Goodbye to autumn, as winter arrives
The wind stirs the morning mist, soaking the roses
This season is the most beautiful in my heart
What cold compares to the chill of early winter?

The kumquat tree behind the house bears green fruit
Your lips, still cold, are sharp and dry
Like the scent of apples in the breeze
A moment of today - a touch of anger

The little cat with wide, round eyes
Looks around, hiding beneath the leafy shade
Eyes wide open, so tired... so tired
It rests, basking in the warmth of the sun

This season, I don't see dandelions
But over there, I see the lemon trees
Covered in buds, ready to bloom in spring
Promising that the branches will soon bear fruit

The first winter wind, your lips smell sweet
It enters my thoughts each morning and night
The fragrant scent wafts in the breeze
The first winter wind carries longing more...

TÓNG THU NGÂN

NỒNG NÀN ƠÍ - 3

Nồng nàn ơi... nồng nàn
Đêm nay ta bên nàng
Đất trời say nghiêng ngửa
Ngoài hiên trăng đã vàng

Nồng nàn ơi đêm hoang
Trong giấc điệp mơ màng
Tình ta là hoang vực
Rớt xuống đời thênh thang

Nồng nàn ta cho nhau
Tình yêu có muôn màu
Ơi mật đời thơm ngát
Ta hái từ đỉnh cao

Nồng nàn anh bên em
Ta cho nhau êm đềm
Cho nhau nghìn thác đổ
Rạo rực và xôn xao

Nồng nàn em nồng nàn
Nồng nàn anh nồng nàn
Đêm thu dương cầm gọi
Khúc nhạc tình miên man

Nồng nàn ơi... nồng nàn
Cho nhau giấc mơ vàng
Thiên đường không xa lắm
Dẫu ta người thế gian...

Nồng nàn ơi... nồng nàn...
Nồng nàn ơi... nồng nàn...

TỐNG THU NGÂN - 789

AND THE EARTH WILL BLOOM
(A Poetic Fable of Love)

The earth will bloom one day
Clouds and water will unite
Our love will become beautiful
And sorrow will pass by

Flowers are born from the earth
People who share the same home
The sky provides rain and sunshine
So that life’s trees may bear fruit

Passing by the sorrowful riverbank
Going toward the dried-up stream
Weeds no longer wish to grow
Stones are covered with moss

Passing through countless days
Shaking off the misty love
Walking through seasons of affection
Lost in the solitary evening

The barren earth lies dry
The heart of love left out to dry
One day it will be watered again
Bringing life’s rivers back to life

And the earth will bloom one day
Melons will grow and the coffee trees will thrive
We will rebuild our home
Children’s voices will be heard reading books

The trees will bear sweet fruits
The seas will be filled with fish and shrimp
The great forests will sing
And the earth will bloom...

TÓNG THU NGÂN 995

OH, MY LOVE, THE GREAT FOREST AWAITS

I still love to walk with you in the great forest
To listen to the night wind blowing endlessly
To catch the faint scent of jasmine flowers
To hold your hand beneath the waning moon

You love to walk with me in the great forest
Together, we pick wild leaves from the riverbank
A meal of crab soup served under the tilted sky
Even the murmuring river recalls memories of old

Oh... my love, vast and endless, the great forest
Amidst the wind and sunlight, we wander together
In the place where white butterflies flutter
In the midst of wilderness, beneath the heavenly sky

I dream of us in the great forest
As evening falls, we walk hand in hand
I’ll pick white grapefruit flowers for you
The fragrance of grapefruit will linger through time

Oh... I long for you in the great forest, vast and endless
My eyes always searching for you far to the east
Our hearts beat in unison, our breaths together
In the midst of the great forest... in the vastness of love...

TÓNG THU NGÂN - 724

CHIỀU CUỐI NĂM

Chiều cuối năm gió lạnh về tơi tả
Gom hết chuyện lòng trải dọc, xếp ngang
Đời người chỉ là những chuyến đi hoang
Chân đã mỏi - nghe đông tàn giá rét

Chiều cuối năm ta ngồi đây nhớ hết
Chuyện vui buồn, lầm lỡ cũng qua mau
Chuyện yêu thương như khúc nhạc nghẹn ngào
Tay nắn phím, ru hồn vào hoang dại

Đừng trách ai vô tình gieo hoang ngãi
Chỉ tại mình đóng mãi cửa con tim
Giữa hồng hoang loài thú vẫn đi tìm
Rừng táo chín mình cùng nhau nếm trải

Chiều cuối năm xem những gì được mất
Những lỗi lầm gặm nhấm mãi hồn hoang
Ta biết hết những gì ta phải sửa
Chiều cuối năm bếp nghèo ta nổi lửa

Chiều cuối năm mấy canh tàn qua nửa
Trái tim người ở giữa đã hanh khô
Ta thắp nến - thắp lên đời xanh ngát
Chiều cuối năm - ngào ngạt thoảng hương bay...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 594

SPARKLING BLOSSOMS OF LIFE

Sparkling blossoms of life, sparkling so bright
Spring arrives with sweet fruit everywhere
Every home is warm, filled with spring's joy
We pluck the blossoms of life, we gather the blessings

Sparkling blossoms of life, sparkling so bright
The golden silk robes of spring approach our world
The birds sing joyfully on the pomelo branches
We pluck the blossoms of life, quickly gathering the joys

Sparkling blossoms of life, sparkling so bright
Spring's beauty shines with a smile
At night, dreams rest by the stream's edge
The breeze is cool, the moonlight is pure and perfect

Sparkling blossoms of life, sparkling so bright
Spring's love spreads everywhere
The apricot, chrysanthemum, and peach flowers bloom
The flowers in my heart are blooming too

Sparkling blossoms of life, sparkling so bright
Your sparkling blue eyes shine with light
The apricot and plum fruits, oh so sweet
Squirrels play joyfully on the branches

Spring has arrived, oh spring
Let’s embrace the new year with peace
Sticky rice cakes, watermelon so red
Sparkling blossoms of life, sparkling so bright...

Sparkling so bright...
Sparkling so bright...

TÓNG THU NGÂN 276

WAITING FOR THE PERSON IN THE RAINY SEASON

I wait for you to return in the rainy season
Carrying a heavy burden of sorrow and longing
One step away, then a thousand waves crash
A lifetime of hardship, but for what reason?

I wait for you to return in the rainy season
The cold wind blows, I wonder where you’ve gone
Dreaming of spring, the soul of the poet
The moonlight spreads like silk, creating the rhythm of the bridge

Soft and clear, the sound of a distant piano
Making me lose sleep throughout the long night
Picking up the leaves of longing in solitude
Gathering the heavy roses in my arms

I still wait for you in the rainy season
Life is short, what does it matter?
The setting sun gradually sinks behind the mountain
I still wait for you - where are you, my love?

Faintly, I hear the sound of prayers
Mixed with the rain and wind throughout the night
Whose dim light flickers in the cold night
Why complain when fate has led us through trials?

I still wait for you in the rainy season
Love, oh, where will you return from?
The droplets of sadness fall throughout the night
For a hundred years, yet it feels like an eternity of sorrow...

TỐNG THU NGÂN 477