Day Returning to the Sea / Ngày Về Với Biển

No rendezvous with the sea, I just return silently

In the thousands of waves after waves, 

where to find, but only in memories…

On the sandy hill, the willow trees still show some faded signs

Horses crossed the mount’n pass, their hooves soon far out-of-sight.

Is the sea tonight rising with tumultuous waves

The birdmarks of yesteryears had long been blown away

On returning, I quietly seek out yesteryear's memories

No signs were found in this ending autumn's day.

How long had it been since you departed and forgot the road home?

The waves constantly sweep away

and wear down ten thousands of things in life's fluctuating sea.

The broken pieces in dark tombs remain deeply buried

Smoke and mist dissolving but still enough to invoke wistful feelings...

Daytime’s ending, the color of sunshine’s fading

Why am I still reminiscing about the old days

By the gardent terrace, a rose’s withering.

A time and place of the past

had long been like cold ashes.

Translated by Vuong Thanh, 2019