* *
First four stanzas in the long 31-stanzas poem “ I am returning” of Tô Thùy Yên, a very well-known, illustrious, creative poet of South Vietnam before 1975, who often laboriously works on his poems.
This long poem was written by the poet when he was released after 10 years in Vietcong’s prison camp, which they called “concentration and reeducation” camp. Mr. Yên was also a major in South Vietnam’s army. He attempted to cut his vein to kill himself to protest the prison’s incredibly debasing and harsh treatment, but his prison friends saved him.
I am returning home,
shadow looming on the wide exile road
No poem on flap waiting (*)
The hurt grinds
and grinds
The stones bit shut
ten years
Goodbye my ten-years buried existence
In the forever silent jungle
Ten years—
ape’s life
Darkened face
stared in the stream
to find
its own
I’m returning
through forest paths, river straits
Autumn breeze dances touching
the forehead’s wrinkles
Dazedly stand I, absorbing, discerning
The years’ dust, remnant
fly-flipping
That’s all. That’s all.
Heaven silent; Earth shut
Life closes its veins,
grime green and pale
Ten years—
world has grown so old
earth fades
and fades
(translated by CH)
Ta về một bóng trên đường lớn
Thơ chẳng ai đề vạt áo phai
Sao bỗng nghe đau mềm phế phủ
Mười năm đá cũng ngậm ngùi thay
Vĩnh biệt ta-mười-năm chết dấp
Chốn rừng thiêng im tiếng nghìn thu
Mười năm mặt sạm soi khe nước
Ta hóa thân thành vượn cổ sơ
Ta về qua những truông cùng phá
Nếp trán nhăn đùa ngọn gió may
Ta ngẩn ngơ trông trời đất cũ
Nghe tàn cát bụi tháng năm bay
Chỉ có thế. Trời câm đất nín
Đời im lìm đóng váng xanh xao
Mười năm, thế giới già trông thấy
Đất bạc màu đi, đất bạc màu
(TTY)
Note:
(*) Poets of the old centuries in Vietnam,and occasionally very close friends, or lovers, when departing after meeting, if they respected, adored the other too much, they suddenly wanted to write some short verses on the flap of the other’s long dress.
First four stanzas in the long 31-stanzas poem “ I am returning” of Tô Thùy Yên, a very well-known, illustrious, creative poet of South Vietnam before 1975, who often laboriously works on his poems.
This long poem was written by the poet when he was released after 10 years in Vietcong’s prison camp, which they called “concentration and reeducation” camp. Mr. Yên was also a major in South Vietnam’s army. He attempted to cut his vein to kill himself to protest the prison’s incredibly debasing and harsh treatment, but his prison friends saved him.
I am returning home,
shadow looming on the wide exile road
No poem on flap waiting (*)
The hurt grinds
and grinds
The stones bit shut
ten years
Goodbye my ten-years buried existence
In the forever silent jungle
Ten years—
ape’s life
Darkened face
stared in the stream
to find
its own
I’m returning
through forest paths, river straits
Autumn breeze dances touching
the forehead’s wrinkles
Dazedly stand I, absorbing, discerning
The years’ dust, remnant
fly-flipping
That’s all. That’s all.
Heaven silent; Earth shut
Life closes its veins,
grime green and pale
Ten years—
world has grown so old
earth fades
and fades
(translated by CH)
Ta về một bóng trên đường lớn
Thơ chẳng ai đề vạt áo phai
Sao bỗng nghe đau mềm phế phủ
Mười năm đá cũng ngậm ngùi thay
Vĩnh biệt ta-mười-năm chết dấp
Chốn rừng thiêng im tiếng nghìn thu
Mười năm mặt sạm soi khe nước
Ta hóa thân thành vượn cổ sơ
Ta về qua những truông cùng phá
Nếp trán nhăn đùa ngọn gió may
Ta ngẩn ngơ trông trời đất cũ
Nghe tàn cát bụi tháng năm bay
Chỉ có thế. Trời câm đất nín
Đời im lìm đóng váng xanh xao
Mười năm, thế giới già trông thấy
Đất bạc màu đi, đất bạc màu
(TTY)
Note:
(*) Poets of the old centuries in Vietnam,and occasionally very close friends, or lovers, when departing after meeting, if they respected, adored the other too much, they suddenly wanted to write some short verses on the flap of the other’s long dress.
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