On Maple Bridge Pier, Thinking of You


Once, a student who failed the official exam
Taking a boat ride returning to his homeland
At midnight, he admiringly watched the moon
So beautiful that he forgot the dire situation

Waving the pen, he wrote a poem
The Chinese poetry garden became more fragrant
A thousand years later, there are still fans
Who enjoy reading Maple Bridge Pier's comment

Now, this poet, a former soldier
In defending the country and home, a loser
Carrying the insult around the world
Stopping by to visit Han Shan Monastery

Listening to bellrings in early breezes
The same old moon startled, nostalgically
Watching little waves under the bridge
Thinking of old boat-light in rainlike mists

The poetic is here, but the sound of crows
The reflection through the water-mirror unfolds
The unrecognizable self of the post
Everything, water in the river, have passed

A very far place such as Gu Su
Enjoyably, coming to see
Yet, nearer as Sai Gon, Ha Noi
Feeling like somewhere of mystery

This poet, without taking an exam, also failed
Even in love, can't erase the guilt
So painful, being away from the motherland
The later half of life, an émigré.

Translated by Ngô Đình Chương - Edited by Đàm Trung Pháp

On Phong Kieu Pier, Thinking of You


A student who failed his exams
Took a boat-ride returning to his homeland
Under the bridge, he watched a moon in the night
Forgot the poor fate in his life

He waved a pen and wrote a poem
Chinese literature, historically, so fragrant
A thousand years later, still astounded
After reading Phong Kieu's commentary

A poet, a former soldier
Hatred of himself because of losing his country and home
Carried the life with no direction
Stopped by to visit Han San temple

Listened to the bell-rings in early wind
As if startling the old moon
Watched ripppled waves under the bridge
Remembered of the boat-light in rainlike mist

In search, melancholically, shadows of crows
Reflecting, dully, shadows of life
Seeing himself as strange fellow
Seeing his heart as floating river

Very far place as Co To
In slowly enjoyable way, stopped by
Near as Saigon and Hanoi
Dimly as jungles and mountains

He who took no exams but also failed
Having a lover as having none
Grieving self for his lost country
Half of life remained, living in exile

Translated by Trường Đinh