Thơ Noel THANH-THANH

SINH-NHẬT EM, MÙA NOEL                   
(Cho Em đã nằm xuống)                                         
 
 
Trời se lạnh và bầu trời trở xám                            
Thoáng mưa phùn như mưa của Huế xưa    
Trong không khí có chút gì gợi nhớ                  
Năm gần tàn, hay xuân sắp về qua         
 
Mùa Noel đã bao lần rồi nhỉ                         
Nếu em còn mình chắc sẽ ăn mừng                
Sinh nhật em chị sẽ làm chiếc bánh              
Rất ngọt ngào với tất cả tình thương                   
 
Chị sẽ làm nhân bằng vòng tay thân ái                 
Sẽ trộn thêm ngàn lời nói ngọt ngào               
Sẽ vẽ lên mặt bao lời chúc tụng                       
Sẽ cười vang lên, hạnh phúc biết bao                   
 
Chị sẽ không cần cân đo rắc rối                    
Bánh yêu thương có ai chỉ được đâu          
Chị sẽ viền quanh bằng sợi dây kỷ niệm            
Gói ghém theo hạt thương nhớ muôn mầu    

Chị sẽ thắp nến, bao nhiêu cây em nhỉ ?            
Ðếm làm chi năm tháng vốn vô cùng            
Chị chỉ mong nến lung linh soi sáng                 
Ðường em đi trong cõi mông lung                        
 
Sinh nhật em chị làm bài thơ nhỏ                            
Ðốt cho em vào lúc Chúa ra đời                    
Nơi nào đó em sẽ cao giọng đọc                         
Và sẽ nhâm nhi chiếc bánh chị mời           
 
Chị sẽ ngăn không cho dòng lệ chảy           
Ðể bên kia không lưu luyến bên này                   
Nhưng mà em, sao bỗng dưng má ướt          
Hình như mưa nhỏ xuống chị không hay.   
 
                          ĐẶNG LỆ KHÁNH
 
 
 
YOUR BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMASTIDE
             (for my defunct younger sister)
 
 
The sky has turned grey and the weather cold,
It mildly drizzles like the kind of rain in Hue of old.
There is something to cause longings in the air:
The year is going to end or the spring to begin fair.
 
How many times since the last Christmas fête?
Were you still alive, we would surely celebrate.
For your birthday I would, with special complexion,
Make a cake quite sweet with all my affection.
 
I would mix the stuffing with my warm feeling,
Dress it with thousand mellifluous words appealing,
Adorn the surface with letters of congratulatory glee
And laugh resoundingly - how happy should we be!
 
It is needless to weigh or measure in order to bake,
Whoever can instruct how to create a love cake?
I would add an edge line as a thread of souvenir
To encompass the multicolored seeds for my dear.

I would light the candles - how many pieces, well?
But what’s counting for, since time is in the sequel!
I only wish that the candles would spark to lighten
Your way in the misty world, salvation to heighten.
 
On your birthday I would write a small poem
And burn it for you on God’s descent as a proem
So that at such a distant place you read it loudly
Gnawing at the cake I prepared for you so proudly.
 
I would try to prevent my hot tears from falling
So you’re not too attached to the earth on recalling,
But, my cheeks suddenly got wet from nowhere:
It seems the rain is dripping, I am not even aware.
 
                        Translation by THANH-THANH

THANH-THANH

TRONG NGÔI GIÁO ÐƯỜNG 
 
Hai dãy hàng ghế trong ngôi giáo đường
Chia đôi tín hữu, chia cả người thương
Từ thuở ấu thơ, kinh còn chưa thuộc
Phải tách quỳ mỗi bên ảnh Cứu Chuộc
Chúa rẽ phân mình, em hữu tả anh.
 
Từ hàng ghế đầu, năm tháng qua nhanh
Ðẩy mình xuống lần ngang hàng ghế giữa
Tóc em đã dài, tình đầu bốc lửa
Anh nhìn ngang hơn nhìn thẳng bàn thờ:
Ngang anh có thiên thần đẹp như mơ
Không sốt sắng vẫn vì em đi lễ
Chúa Nhật nào trông qua bên hàng ghế
Thấy vắng em, anh thấy mất thiên đường.
 
Rồi Chúa thương tình hai kẻ yêu đương
Cho anh dắt thiên thần lên cung thánh
Nhẫn cưới trao nhau, ghế quỳ bên cạnh
Ước cuộc đời cứ thế mãi song đôi .
Hôn lễ tan, dòng giữa trở về ngồi
 
Thời gian chưa kịp dần dà xua đuổi
Ðôi ta xuống tận nơi hàng ghế cuối
Anh đã đưa em trở lại trước bàn thờ
Trong nước mắt, trong thần trí đần ngơ
Sao em ẩn trong quan tài lạnh lẽo
Ðể mình anh đứng cô đơn teo héo
Bơ vơ lạc lõng giữa chốn thánh đường
 
Rồi đây trong tuổi đông giá phong sương
Chịu sao nổi suốt cuộc đời còn lại!
Lúc xem lễ vẫn quen nhìn bên trái
Mắt đã lờ, được thấy em trong mây
Và anh mơ, mơ được sớm đến ngày
Gặp lại em khi rời hàng ghế chót. 
 
                                       VĂN BIA
 
 
INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL
 
The two blocks of seats in the cathedral wide   
Divided the believers, separated the lovers too.
Since childhood, the prayers not yet known through,
We had to kneel down on each of the Image's side:
The Savior parted us, on the left me, on the right you.
 
Time passed fast, pushing us from the first line
Gradually down to the middle rows to sit.
Your hair had grown long, my first love strong wine,
I looked sideways rather than straight at the altar fit.
Sideways in my row there was an angel like a dream:
Even not fervent, I went to church for you, my nice.
If on Sunday I glanced in your direction with a beam
But did not see you there, I felt I had lost Paradise.
 
Then God took compassion on the two infatuated,
Allowing me to lead up to the pulpit my sprite,
Exchange wedding rings, kneel as to be graduated,
And wish for a forever side-by-side happy life bright.
After that, we got back to the middle row in His light.
 
Time had not been enough after our such treats
To drive both of us down to the last row of seats,
Back in front of the altar I already had to send you,
In hot tears, in dull spirit and dumb mind, so blue!
Why have you hid yourself in that coffin, how cold!
Leaving me lonely, pain unable to withhold,
Standing abandoned, got lost in the holy place.
 
From now on, having my time-worn age to face,
How could I endure my life's remaining days!
In the cathedral I am still used to glance sideways
To wish through dim eyes to see you in the clouds;
And I dream, dream of being soon rid of all shrouds,
I meet you again on leaving the last row of seats.
 
                          Translation by THANH-THANH
 

       TRÁI CẤM
 
 
Từ buổi hồng hoang đầy phấn bụi
Địa đàng còn trái cấm trên cây
Người trai nguyên tổ - Adam – hái
Vì thắm men tình hương tóc mây
 
Cám dỗ bắt ta thèm trái cấm
Như thèm đời có những cơn say
Như thèm cảm giác, thèm hơi ấm
Thèm để con tim đổ mộng đầy
 
Cũ mốc, cũ meo, đời cũ mèm
Tình ta đã cũ, quá hơi quen
Thời gian cũng cũ, đi mòn lối
Cũ cả lời yêu: anh với em
 
Vẫn cũ, dù em thường đổi áo
Tô son, đánh phấn bao nhiêu lần
Dù thu đã bắt đầu thay lá
Mời đón thời gian, gợi ý xuân
 
Vẫn cũ, dù tim anh hóa kiếp
Để tình yêu đổi mới toanh toanh
Ái ân cũng đến hồi da diết
Rồi đám rong rêu bám cuộc tình
 
Cám dỗ bắt ta thèm trái cấm
Như thèm đời có những cơn say
Từ trong nguyên tổ, và nguyên tội
Con rắn nằm khoanh trên nhánh cây
 
                               KHANG LANG
 


       THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT
 
Since the beginning – the earth full of dust,
The forbidden fruit in Eden still on the tree –
Our first ancestors ventured to eat it. Gee,
Doting on Eve, Adam sinned after love to lust!
 
Temptations have lured us to banned dreams
Just as we need passions for spell in a lifetime,
Hunger for sensations, a heartwarming prime,
Thirst for reveries to fill the soul that beams.
 
The world is so ancient! Our life-style so trite!
Days are so stale! Living habits so out-dated!
Even our attachment has become antiquated!
Darling! Courting words have grown a bite!
 
Whether you change your clothes many a turn
Or always make yourself up, you still look old,
Although fall leaves have begun to turn gold,
Inviting the season, suggesting Spring’s return.
 
Even if my heart in metempsychosis succeeded
So that I could renew my love in renovation,
Our affection would reach pain as destination,
Being moss-grown, incapable of being weeded.
 
Sped by seductions for taboos we have craved
As we need passions through thick and thin:
Above our first ancestor and the original sin,
- Coiled round the branch, the serpent stayed!
 
                              Translation by THANH-THANH

CHÂN LÝ
 
Thuở xưa ...
Ngày xưa ...
.....
Bác học Bruno
Bước lên giàn hỏa thiêu
Hồn nhiên như dạo phố.
Quay mặt nói với lũ người cuồng nộ,
Quả đất vẫn tròn, sau trước niềm tin
Dù thân này – cát bụi tro than.
 
Lũ cuồng tín nhất định quả đất vuông
Ông thánh, ông thần phán dạy .
Kẻ nào nói khác đi – quân càn quấy
Tội đồ giữa hỏa thiêu
 
Ngàn năm sau
Trí tuệ con người, hào quang ngời reo
Bay lên tận mặt trăng
Nhìn xuống
Quả đất chúng ta tròn – bong bóng
Màu xanh thực vật, mát dịu dung nhan.
 
Thế kỷ Hai Mươi đang đếm bước cuối cùng
có những kẻ còn tôn thờ cuồng tín
truy chụp anh em -- người dị đồng ý kiến
gieo rắc hận thù giữa tai họa đau thương
 
Những thằng ngu – ba hoa chuyện văn chương
những bọn khùng điên, đòi làm lịch sử
kẻ thất học, mơ giấc mơ lãnh tụ
quân thần nằm chết
lớp bùn đen
 
Chân lý Bruno – chân lý người hiền
rừng rực hỏa thiêu
nghênh ngang sự thật
ngày nay
con người tung hô, xuyên tạc
trắng đổi đen, xanh đổi đỏ vàng...
nhục nhã thay, ôi kẻ loạn cuồng!
 
                                        DIÊN NGHỊ
 
 
 
TRUTH
 

Once upon a time
There lived the Scientist Bruno
Who was forced to death on fire
Mounted a scaffold like he was taking an easy stroll
Facing his executioners, he said:
“The earth is round – It is a faith
I bet on it, by my fate
Over my life in danger.”
 
The blindly obstinate believers
Contended that the earth was square indeed
After the teaching of their Gods and Spirits
And whoever told the opposite
Would be subject to... fire
Would be burnt alive.
 
Times and times have passed
Human mind developed its full very fast
This splendor allowed Man to distant Moon
From high above, very soon
To look down and see that our Earth is round
Dressed in her evergreen freshness and velvet clouds
 
Our 20th Century’s drawing to the end
But still there remain that kind of men
Who charge and label their friends of different thinkings
Who keep on sowing terror, hatred and sufferings
The idiots that tell gossips on Literature
The crazy who want to change History
The uneducated who dream of being leaders
Who press down hard, defame their king and courtiers
 
Bruno’s truth, the truth of the Wise
Resplendent over fire
Irreversible after Sacrifices
The unwavering Pride
But in the meanwhile
Some guys try to loudly shout and distort
to make white black
blue to yellow to red
How pitiful for them – that kind of true mad.
 
                         English version by Y YEN
 
 
TRUTH
 
 
ON that old day – How could it be neglected?
The scientist Bruno went on to the pyre
As if he was taking a stroll, unaffected;
He re-affirmed to the frenzied abusers of fire:
“The Earth is round, in that Truth I trust
Although my body has to turn into dust!”
 
The fanatics determined the earth was square
As from their gods and saints they had learned;
Whoever came to say to the contrary to dare
Was consequently ordered to be alive burned!
 
Man’s intellect develops as life evolves;
The most revered halo he has come to gain:
By flying to the moon he now firmly resolves
The roundness of our Earth like a ball to reign
In the azure universe forever to remain.
 
Even the 20th century has ended its dominion,
There still are the furious with their choler,
To put labels on others for a different opinion;
Promote hatred; spread misfortune and dolor!
 
And the idiots about literature to talk hot air;
The fool, insane to fluctuate history’s fate;
The ignorant to dream of a leader’s chair;
All to sully and drown the pillars of the State!
 
Bruno’s Truth is the very Truth of the Sage,
The Sparkle of Fire, the Pride of Pure Fame,
Whereas today’s vulgar people disparage,
Misrepresent the Good as Bad – What shame!
 
                  Translation by THANH-THANH
 

     LAUD TO POPE JOHN PAUL II
On 03-12-2000, Pope John Paul II apologized for all the Vatican's sins in the past.
The first version of this poem had been published in "Who's Who in New Poets"
(New York: Who's Who in New Poets, 1996).
 
 
I laud you for most of the other moral systems detecting
And for anything true and holy in them not rejecting --
Those Asian Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist religions,
And Australian hundreds-of-centuries-old native traditions.
 
I commend you for admitting your predecessors misapprehended
The earth’s form and position for which Galileo contended.
To deny the roundness and movement of the globe, in error
The Inquisition persecuted the physicist, inflicted terror!
 
I praise you for acknowledging that, without lenience,
In order to liberate Jerusalem from Islamic obedience,
They fostered crusades in the European Catholics’ name,
But they had recourse to violence – unworthy of fame!
 
I respect you for apologizing, to many a Latin nation,
For Spanish past roles in South-America Evangelization.
Delegated by the Church, Spain took advantage of the situation
To practice cruelly massacre, tyranny, and exploitation!
 
I admire you for testifying your anterior ones’ lack of sanity
While love of one another is the Bible’s thesis of humanity.
They considered the black-skinned as of lowest grade;
And they tolerated, and even encouraged, slave trade!
 
I sympathize with your feeling about World War II a sharp pain:
The Vatican’s cooperation with the Nazis – a dark stain!
I acclaim your recognition of the processes of Evolution:
Such reasoning beyond Creation is quite a revolution!
 
I extol you rectifying the doctrine of the Virgin Mary:
Whether body and soul into heavenly glory it does vary.
To inherit sin – before that conception – she was bound;
To exclude her from natural death, there is no ground.
 
I comprehend your part in seeking Poland's regime to replace:
Because you are a Polish first and above any other race.
I agree with you that though you tell people not to fear,
You must still use bulletproof protection in public to appear.
 
I love your getting prepared for the century twenty-first:
All predictions of the "near end" only mean a frenzy burst!
I’m sorry for you yielding to the Vietnamese protestation
Of their own country’s prelacy against your ordination!
 
I thank you for teaching Christians to repent of their sin
Committed in the past by certain Pontiffs and their kin.
Such lucidity, justice, and courage, of a man capable,
Lets me believe that you, the Pope, is not mistakable!
 
                                                          THANH-THANH