DR. DUONG DUC NHU’S TRANSLATION OF EMPEROR LE THANH TONG’S
VINH CAI CHOI
THE BROOM
The Lord’s order travelling down to the palace’s jade
threshold,
appointing him commander to sweep off all dust and dirt, as
told
One hand of his tossing about, against such endless sky, his
breaking wind is heard
In all four directions he tackled, leveling out all thorns
from earth
During leisure daytime, he let all clouds drooping from the
Han’s northern royal castle
On translucent nights, he leaned against the moonlit tower, declaring:
no more hassle
The longer he embraced his roots, the more weather-beaten he
became
Worn out finally, he held up what’s left: his surviving medal
belt -- neither fortune, nor fame…
Edited by WN Duong Nhu Nguyen, April 2020
TONG BIET CUA TAN DA
Lá đào rơi rắc lối thiên thai,
Suối tiễn oanh đưa luống ngậm ngùi!
Nửa năm tiên cảnh,
Một bước trần ai,
Ước cũ duyên thừa có thế thôi!
Đá mòn, rêu nhạt,
Nước chảy, huê trôi,
Cái hạc bay lên vút tận trời!
Trời đất từ đây xa cách mãi.
Cửa động,
Đầu non,
Đường lối cũ,
Ngàn năm thơ thẩn bóng trăng chơi.*
*Hoai Thanh chep la “bong trang soi,” ban dich
du`ng ca hai y nghia: trang chơi, va
trang soi
BAN DICH CUA GS DUONG DUC NHU:
FAREWELL
Peach leaves falling,
scattering along Paradise’s path
In nostalgia, grieving
springs and orioles had seen me off
On fairyland, my year
split in half
equaled one step, in
this dusty world
My old promise and
superfluous fate, measured as such
These worn rocks and faded
moss
Floating flowers on
running water
Into endless sky a
stork flew forever
Heaven and Earth from
this moment
Signaled eternal separation
Gate of a cavern
Top of a mountain
Pathways so ancient
For thousands of years,
a playful moon
shining on,
reflection upon
my wandering soul
Edited by WN Duong
(Nhu Nguyen) April 2020
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