Nguyễn Văn Dũng Vicar

Tuberose

Tuberose is white. And the wall also is white
Why is shadow of flower on the wall still black?

You don’t look at anywhere else oh you!
I don’t know why I there is fault
But forever still only is a answer
Why is shadow of flower on the wall still black…

Wait for autumn to return

Today I wait for autumn to return
North-east wind
Everywhere are north-east wind
Leaves are rustling among thousand trees
Afternoon is gentle, lucky soft colour of cloud

Earth heaven is exciting with I
Add you to come back to be autumn.

In mother’s singing

Childhood was carried fully with legend
The river word of mother was honeyed
To lead me going with homeland
Sway rhythm of hammock folk song.

I found in mother’s singing
White stork-wing, green field-tract
I love yellow flower of loofah
“Chicken complain calling leaves of lemon”(1).

Time ran passingly hair of mother
A white colour is that uneasy
Back of mother was arched gradually
For me get higher and higher.

Oh, mama! In mother’s singing
There was the life to appear
Lullaby patch me pair of pinion
Grown-up I will fly far.

Immortal flower

Arrive someday you will abandon me to leave
Very fortunately line of verse still is left
Lonely sea lose one’s way sail returns

Then cold verses abandon me to leave away
Don’t regret forever to keep a sadness again
Solitary mountain confess the moon of swear

And at last the sadness also abandon me to leave
Yellow carroty sunshine…
Uncultivated flower…
Evening wild grass,
Perfumed as doesn’t be known what thing

Perhaps wind against to find at that time
To sing verbosely
Alas! The immortal flower…

Far away

Far away extremely, restlessly go asking the sand
The way was crowded which steps were her footsteps

Far away extremely alone go asking the boat station
What word did she who crossed river tell waves additionally

Far away extremely, falteringly go asking the market
Did she who bought the miror at that time return always?

The woman who bought the miror once came back
Looked oneself in a miror jubilantly then turned away silently.

Afternoon

While returning, remember very much
Afternoon slowly see daytime off
Sad sound echos into cloud…

Wild birds forget taking off
The wind passions love bewilderedly
Are melancholy of eternity there
Accumulate into soul this evening?

I am a travelling man
Sunset-colour can’t help forget
Think (wrongly) my heart is forest
Believe (incorrectly) oneself soul is cloud.

Is homesick kindle a cigarette
Jet smoke rises up tree…

Handicapped

In the afternoon of this, I can not forget
There was a mad person going in deserted street
A lame person walked lamely
Asked dumb person about way
And I kept silence
The silence in my heart was sobbing
Only there were sounds of leaves lamented
Ended a spring season
In the afternoon of this, I can not forget
With the silence… from my invalid heart.

For a day of birth

So. Hey, elder sister!
To fall red flower of cotton tree
How strange! It wasn’t windless
For the day you bore a baby

The day you bore… Heaven sent to versify
Sent sad, gay feature, four seasons of preoccupation
Sent to do a traditional sing line
Let everybody sing “ly loi”

Attach to married filament of heaven
To abandon personal feelings, human-love is intricate involvement.

Flower season

Flower season
Women season
Flaming red-face
Excess of strength carry husband
Vigorously run quickly climbing mountain.

Flower season
Men season
Tiresomeness like robe is falling
To hold on while going and sleepy.

Rain

Soon rain
Soon rain
Crowd of termite
Fly out
Young termite
fly high
Old termite
Fly low.
Little chickens
Bustle looking for place
To hide.
The creator
Wear black armour plate
Deploy troops.
Myriad-thousand sugar-canes
Sword-dance.
Ants
Operate military.
Way full-
Dry leaves.
Wind whirl
Dust flying
Swift curl.
Dog’s-grass shake its ear
Hear.
Bamboo-bush
Hesitate
Comb its hair.
The row of pomelo
Sway
Carry children
Round head
Clean-shaven.
Lightning
Slits across the sky
Curtly wither.
Thunder
Downs yard quickly
Peal of-
Laughter.
Coconut palm
Arm length
Swim.
Top of chayote
Is dancing.
Rain
Rain
Roaring like rice husking
Slapping sound
Slapping sound…
Drop
Drop…
Ground sky
Obscure white water.
Rain fall slantingly yard-surface
To bubble.
Toad jumps hop hop.
Dog barks.
Trees, leaves are exultant.
After ploughing, my father goes home
With thunder
With lightning
With it’s raining…