The poet Tran Nhuan Minh
Born on August 20th, 1944 in Nam Sach district, Hai Duong province. He was graduated from the Faculty of Literature at Hanoi University and worked as a member of the Poetry Council of Vietnam Writers’ Association. Currently, he is living and writing in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh. From 1962 to 1969, he worked as a teacher at Hong Quang area and Quang Ninh province. From 1969 to 2005, he was elected as Chairman of Quang Ninh Province's Art and Literature Association, Editor-in-Chief of Ha Long Newspaper.
Blue afternoon
On deep blue afternoon, we stay together
A little attic and rain stretching to the wharfs
Being short like my shirt, girlhood soon passes away
Love to you may not be hidden
We stay together in a deserted afternoon
Soft winds pass through steps, sunshines get strong
Moon rises up while my hair has not brushed
Sadness and dreams are brought along with clouds
Dry leaves fly around the stone well in one afternoon
I go on the slope and never come back
Clouds hides the village’s sky
Le le birds call their friends in deep lagoon
We are separated in a peaceful afternoon
I suddenly see “full moon” crescent
Dress is floated in cold winds
Winds blow from the early time of hoa bay flowers, making my
heart moved…
One time you pass through
One time you pass through
An eyebrow is dropped on the yard
And then… dog barks relatives
Far birds forget singing, near fish forgets swim
His wife cooks soup and pot is burnt.
He keeps standing and sitting in wonder…
Today that eyebrow
Turns into a twig of strange grass blossoming…
Oh, flowers, I am unlike others
Not daring to lie a girl to love her younger sister…
Advice to the child
No-one wants to be a beggar
Beggars are unhappy in this world
You should not laugh at them
Although they are smelly and dirty
Our house is close to the road, therefore, they often come
If possible, we should give them something
Children, never ask
Where they come from
Our dogs are so bad
They always bite beggars
You should teach them
Otherwise, you should sell them
We are now well fed and clothed
But no-one knows what will the future be like
Kindness should be delivered to the persons
Maybe the good things will come to us…
Translated by Thanh Kha group
Source: Vietnam Writers and Works
VNQD