Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
Poet Ngo Thai, born in 1939, is originally from Lam Thao Town, Phu Tho, and currently resides in Phong Chau Town, Phu Ninh District, Phu Tho. He is a member of the Phu Tho Literature and Arts Association and has published five volumes of poetry and epic poems with publishers including Literature, Youth, and the Writers Association.
MEETING YOU (GẶP EM)
I met you by a gentle stream
Among the whispering pines
Where the wind lifted the fragrant scent of the forest…
A glimmer shone in your eyes, so clear
A yellow leaf drifted down
Resting on your dark hair
Your indigo dress flickered
Softly fading… into the misty afternoon.
I gaze absent-mindedly
Among the distant mountains
Floating at noon in Tam Dao
My soul drifts with the clouds…
THAT DAY – (NGÀY ẤY)
I walked beside you across the stream
Listening to the gentle gurgle of the water
The fragrance of wildflowers so sweet
The water is cool and clear
Yellow sunlight drifted softly
Through tender leaves
Dancing like a butterfly
On your velvet-soft hair.
Wild banana flowers glow bright
Clouds drift like embroidered scarves
The silhouette of a mountain girl appears
Dreaming in the afternoon forest
TERRACED FIELD FESTIVAL
(LỄ HỘI RUỘNG BẬC THANG *)
At the top of the high mountain, the sky stretches wide
Layers of terraces form a bright yellow carpet
The clouds shyly embrace the mountainside
As the sun lets the soul of poetry drift peacefully
In the heart of Mu Cang Chai*, my heart swells with excitement
The natural magic is truly breathtaking
A little girl’s heavy load sways precariously
Carrying the yellow sunlight down to the village
September brings the season of terraced fields
Blue smoke paints the stilt house roofs in purple hues
The flute melody rattles the wine jars
While the gong sound echoes in the afternoon sky
Reaching the village after crossing three slopes
We welcome you to the festival of this season
As you pour the mountain apple wine**, tilting the jar
Let’s forget the world and indulge in our revelry…
*Mu Cang Chai (Yên Bái)
**Specialty wine from Yên Bái
(Translated into English by HFT)
