Sand and dust - Trinh Cong Son

Grain of dust, morphed into me
Let my being one day rise and blossom
O wonders, sand and dust!
Let the sun shine through a rambling life

Grain of dust, morphed into me
Let me one day return unto
So worn out sand and dust
As the beat goes on, infinite

Years into a human life, in the blink
Of an afternoon, the hair turn white
High above, fading leaves fall out
As hundred years enter death, in a single day

Which passing sun has lit up my heart
In which love is eroding to gravels
Face hidden, as sorrow raises
Each passing day I await bliss

Forest of thinly leafed trees
From the abyss I heard the call
O this fate, sand and dust,
An inkdrop was erased, in oblivion.

translated by Vân Mai
01/05/2005

Source: tcs-home

Bow down truly close - Trinh Cong Son

1. Bow down for blood to flow back on itself
For river waters to exhaust their source
For dried out trees, helpless leaves pour down from their branches

Bow down for shadows to cast forth their length
For the sun's torment
For someone's sweet fragrance to fade as well

Bow down listen to life's oscillation
Listen to a heart fracture
Listen midst a babe's cries

Bow down upon the tormented shore
Upon tongues of red flame
Upon a face that was soundless

Bow down look deeply into the eyes
And hear the storm disperse on the high seas

Bow down bow down true sadness
For river waters to swirl
Twenty years sate all life’s years of pain

Bow down for a smile to be extinguished
For a little human flesh
Midst devastation there are still shadows to cover its extent.

2.Bow down bow down truly close
For the heart to be frantic
For passion to take the place of our native land's ruin

Bow down bow down truly close
For this kiss to be sweet and warm
For one hundred anguished years in an instant to be nothingness

Bow down for love to arise
For flesh to be soft
For fiery passion to swoon

Bow down for life to forget
For clouds to sink
For night to open its somber festival

Bow down mountain lands green and cool
And lift a voice in song to dissipate anguish

Bow down bow down truly close
For your hair to ripple
My pain is pleased to shade you from high above

Bow down for when hair turns silver
Upon bewitching moments
Twenty years, please still love each other soon.

Translate by Jason Gibbs
September 2009
taybui.blogspot.com

Source: tcs-home