The Vietnamese Across this magnificent universe from the four corners of this wonderful earth emerged a people, simple but resolute, upholding their own uniqueness. They have never been the strongest and certainly they are not the grandest but truly they believe good deeds shall prevail over evil. They have never been the brightest and certainly they are not the proudest but truly they believe in righteousness and justice. They rose up against the mightiest persistently and decisively they resisted and kept out from their homeland slave chains of adversaries. In three great wars they crushed Genghis Khan’s army Countless times they thwarted the northern fleets From Asian invaders to European colonialists All intruders were vanquished in time. Across this magnificent universe from the four corners of this wonderful earth emerged a people called the Vietnamese, the Exceptional People of the South. Their land is not among the best fertile often dried and sometimes flooded but they nurture with warm heart and mind to cultivate fine yields of life. They have never been the wealthiest but they’re among the most generous endowed with brave souls and vibrant spirit channeling love to overcome sufferings. Defying history’s vicious politics Millions conquered the Pacific’s challenge with nothing but kindness and love of the Exceptional People of the South. Their journey has never ended but evolved and kept evolving to illustrate the compassion in love, in tragedy and triumph throughout life. Across this magnificent universe from the four corners of this wonderful earth emerged a people with kindness and love, the Exceptional People of the South. Lloyd Duong In midair crossing the Pacific September 27, 2017 * Việt Nam (Việt: Exceptional . Nam: South) |
| Mother’s Elegance Sunlight peers through clouds and wonders A long time has passed since my aged Mother was seen. Has she been tired of teasing sunrays which keep waiting for her, days after days? Sunlight treasures Mother’s fragrance as well as her displeasure of late sunrise with beams longing for her warm touch. Sunlight dreams Mother would embrace it forever. Forget me not, Sunlight ever wishes. Little-known but Mother has gone so far away and conveyed is her caring love reminding Sunlight to forever warm Life. Heart drops, Sunlight reminisces of times past of Mother’s footsteps under bright beams of her elegant grace captivating the sky. Sunlight shines .. .. shines through the rain with voice drowned in tears. Erlinda Thùy Linh |
| Time I was born in the land of love where we called the Pearl of the East with great mountains and beautiful rivers with people who are simple but dedicated. But the dream of peace keeps slipping away as the Northerners invaded our land. Many losses. Many families suffered, asphyxiated by the emptied promise of liberty. Democracy, human rights are detained in dark cells as the enemy continues to attack our ancestry, our way of life and destroy our 4000-year culture. More than four decades I am still longing for justice released from the deep dungeon to break the chains of slavery and remove the foreign sacks. When will my homeland attain democracy for the flame of liberty burns brightly? When will my people achieve happiness and sing the notes of justice and compassion? My tears flow with my awaken soul When will, when will the time come? Nguyễn Thanh Sơn Sean Nguyen |
| Haiku poems: Simple in form. Complexity in thought. GRACE Buddha lived enlightened Jesus died for salvation Heaven’s grace blossomed. Lloyd Duong ÂN ĐỨC HẠNH Thích ca sống giác ngộ Giê-su chết cứu rỗi Ân phước thiên đàng nở rộ. Vịnh Thanh LOVE One looked. One frozen the whole universe stood still. Love, secret feeling. Lloyd Duong TÌNH YÊU Ai nhìn. Ai lặng người cả vũ trụngừng xoay. Tình yêu, cảm giác kín đáo. Vịnh Thanh PRAYS Immense ocean Prays quell the cold and dense fog sail into unknown. Lloyd Duong CẦU NGUYỆN Đại dương bao la cầu nguyện chinh phục buốc giá và sương mù cất buồm ra khơi vô định. Vịnh Thanh CHALLENGE The heart’s sincere verses steered by diverse tenets challenge friends’ wisdom. Lloyd Duong THỬ THÁCH Ý tứ chân thành của con tim lôi kéo bởi hướng nhìn đa dạng thử thách sự sáng suốt của bằng hữu. Vịnh Thanh VĨNH VIỄN Tatoo khắc tạc da Tình cảm tha thiết xuyên thấu tim Ký ức đâu dễ xóa Vịnh Thanh |
| Tiễn Tri Kỷ Đến với tôi tình bạn đầy kho báu Chia sẻ nỗi đời tựa bằng hữu thâm giao Đó đây ân cần trao nụ cười thanh nhã Xa gần lưu luyến thi họa thiên sương. Tuy khác nẻo đường đời nhưng cùng giao tâm xoay quanh đoạn cuối Vịnh suối thơ thanh hòa quyện ấm lòng Thi xướng tình, vạn mỹ ý tầm say. Chung với bạn mãi cuối chặng đường này thời gian hạn hẹp, tình nghĩa thênh thang. Bạn nhỡ đi về thiên đàng, niết bàn hay nơi khác Nhớ chờ tôi đừng vội quên duyên giao hữu cuối đời. Khi tôi đến Và tôi sẽ đến tìm bạn hiền thân thiết dẫu thiên đàng, niết bàn hay địa ngục để viếng thăm ôn lại chặng đường cùng để ngâm cho bạn những dòng thơ của bạn để hơ ấm tình giao hữu thuở xa xưa. Mãi trong tôi Chân tình của bạn … tri kỷ cuối đời vĩnh viễn khắc tâm. Vịnh Thanh Trên trời giữa không trung Bắc Mỹ viết cho những người bạn của tôi 4/10/2015 |
| English version of the same theme The Train of Memories My dear precious friends We all came from different paths Carrying diverse baggage of life to the last phase of our journey. Time had passed then stopped at this station By luck, karma or might even by God’s deed We all board the same train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows. As for those who adore friendship Such as I and such as we It’s a rich, craving treasure Of stories and poems Of music, dance, tears and cheers On this train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows. There’ll be time you would say good bye Leaving this train of adoring friends for a sanctuary of invited guests in heaven, nirvana or elsewhere But please forget us not Always keep our memories warm. As for one day I’ll surely come Yes I will come and I will knock Looking for all my precious friends On this train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows. Indeed one day I’ll surely come Yes I will come and I will knock The door of heaven, the drums of nirvana … or even the gate of hell Looking for all my precious friends To hold hands, to hug, and to laugh out loud While recite forgotten tales Of stories and poems Of music, dance, tears and cheers On our train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows. Our precious friendship a craving treasure we forever keep On the train of memories Leading to somewhere .. likely, might be the destination of love, care, and sharing. Lloyd Duong Thanksgiving 2015 |
| For Ever and For Always My Darling, I was mystified Mystifiedtruly I was by the secret invite portrayed on your lips the unspoken giftsconcealedin your eyes thetriumph of love prevailed from yourthought I am still mystified, truly, my Darling for ever and for always My Darling, I was amazed Amazed truly I was bythe innocence perfecting your mind the genuine kindness revealed in your charm the calmnessgraced byyour presence I am still amazed, truly, my Darling for ever and for always My Darling, I was dazzled Dazzled truly I was bythe romanceflown from your softvoice the unique choice of your elegant fragrance the magnificence of your gentle touch I am still dazzled, truly, my Darling for ever and for always My Darling, I do remember Remembertruly I do the great momentswe often had the archchallengesthat we’dovercome thewisdom of love, care and sharing I do remember, truly,my Darling for ever and for always LloydDuong 2016/12/01 |
| The Vietnamese Across this magnificent universe from the four corners of this wonderful earth emerged a people, simple but resolute, upholding their own uniqueness They have never been the strongest and certainly they are not the grandest but truly they believe good deeds shall prevail over evil They have never been the brightest and certainly they are not the proudest but truly they believe in righteousness and justice They rose up against the mightiest persistently and decisively they resisted and kept out from their homeland slave chains of adversaries In three great wars they crushed Genghis Khan’s army Countless times they thwarted the northern fleets From Asian invaders to European colonialists All intruders were vanquished in time Across this magnificent universe from the four corners of this wonderful earth emerged a people called the Vietnamese, the Exceptional People of the South Their land is not among the best fertile often dried and sometimes flooded but they nurture with warm heart and mind to cultivate fine yields of life They have never been the wealthiest but they’re among the most generous endowed with brave souls and vibrant spirit channeling love to overcome sufferings Defying history’s vicious politics Millions conquered the Pacific’s challenge with nothing but kindness and love of the Exceptional People of the South Their journey has never ended but evolved and kept evolving to illustrate the compassion in love, in tragedy and triumph throughout life Across this magnificent universe from the four corners of this wonderful earth emerged a people with kindness and love, the Exceptional People of the South. Lloyd DUONG |
The Train of Memories My dear precious friends We all came from different paths Carrying diverse baggage of life to the this phase of our journey Time had passed then stopped at this station By luck, karma or might even by God’s deed We all board the same train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows As for those who adore friendship Such as I and such as we It’s a rich, craving treasure Of stories and poems Of music, dance, tears and cheers On this train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows There’ll be time you would say good bye Leaving this train of adoring friends for a sanctuary of invited guests in heaven, nirvana or elsewhere But please forget us not Always keep our memories warm As for one day I’ll surely come Yes I will come and I will knock Looking for all my precious friends On this train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows Indeed one day I’ll surely come Yes I will come and I will knock The door of heaven, the drums of nirvana … or even the gate of hell Looking for all my precious friends To hold hands, to hug, and to laugh out loud While recite forgotten tales Of stories and poems Of music, dance, tears and cheers On our train of memories Leading to somewhere, God only knows Our precious friendship a craving treasure we forever keep On the train of memories Leading to somewhere .. likely, might be the destination of love, care, and sharing. Lloyd Duong |
| Mother in Memory Mom, far away from home I still carry your beloved image. Days and nights my soul dreams of visiting you. Over here it’s winter. Falling snow isolates my soul buried in memory of past Springs when you held your children in happy times. Spring just arrived in our homeland. The sun came, flowers blossomed. Everyone waits for the lunar year to come. Mom, you must be sad? Mom! I can never forget. All your life you took care of us, spent your happiness, dreams to raise your children… The situation caused me to leave. The homeland changed, people remain apart. So many cry in silence. The vast ocean has buried so many lives! This Tết I am still far away from you. I can’t return for a visit. In foreign land, I always remember my beloved mother with the highest respects! Lieu Huu LE Tết: Vietnamese New Year |
| Back To The Time We Met As we travel on the road of life There are friends we like to meet There are places we seek to see And good deeds we mayperfect Some dream of better prospects of rewards that vest power of successes that seal anything of feelings that bring happiness As for me I just wish to be taken back to the time we met I can’t guess what I might do when conquered by the sight of you I truly wish that I could be taken back to the time we met to let you know howdearly I love your smile, cry, dance and laugh If I could I would like to be taken back to the time we met to reset the rhythms of life slow down the past, heighten the laughs Oh I wish, truly wish, life could be taken back to the time we met. Lloyd Duong 2015 |
| Sean NGUYEN, Secretary General Author, Community Leader One of the youngest members of Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre, Sean NGUYEN studied at St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City and Rutgers College of Arts & Sciences in Newark, NJ. His family moved to Orlando, Florida, where Sean NGUYEN became active in the Vietnamese community. He was elected Vice-President of the community in Central Florida in the past. Beside works, he sponsors and manages the soccer team Sài Gòn United in Orlando, Florida. Sean NGUYEN served as Vice-President of the Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre’s Southeast USA Chapter and an official delegate to the Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre’s 10th Congress in Southern California in 2014. He was one of the main organizers of the first Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre’s Summer Camp which was highly praised by Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner, who proclaimed the three camp days as “Vietnamese Abroad PEN Centre Days in Houston, Texas.” Sean NGUYEN’s works include Tri Kỷ (True Friendship), Tịnh Tâm Thư (Book of Cogitation). |
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