Their contributions are noted. Vietnamese versions of these poems could be found at http://vikhue.multiply.com.
1
SPARKLING NECKLACE 1
FOREWORD 5
6
For me to understand you, Mother
What does it take?
You wrote your poems when you were in your teen years
Living through the times of hardship
of a country at war
Looking at my childrens nowadays
Sweet sixteens are the best years of their lives
But not for you Mother
Enduring through hard times with siblings to care for
How did you ever manage?
That's what I wanted to find out
That's why I went through your poetry
To trace back the steps of your early years
Your poems were written of tears
It was a difficult thing for me to do
But I needed to separate you, a mother
from you, a poet and writer
At this point I begin to understand
Poetry is your outlet, and also a curse
A burden that you've carried for many long decades
Through times good and bad
Through happiness and heart-breaks
Moments of upheavals and earth shattering changes
That's why you keep on writing more poems
As they are demanding task masters
Until you drain your soul of what's needed to be said
They wouldn't leave you alone in peace
This is my dedication to you and your life’s work
Translated versions of your favorite poems
Some of them I knew by heart since I was young
But familiarity bred contempt
I'd never cared to read the meaning behind the words
Herein my labor of love to you
I've read your words and tried to understand the meaning underneath
Tried to imagine how you felt at the time
In doing so, I've strung together a collection of memories
to form a sparkling necklace of your poetry
That's my gift to you, Mother 7
Table of Contents 11
On the bank of the Potomac 18
Bên dòng Potomac 20
Bến sông mang hồn Châu Á xa xôi. 21
Nhớ Biển Xanh 23
Remember the Blue Sea 24
Bài Ru Thời Chiến 25
A Wartime Lullaby 26
Spring's arrived in these four walls 29
Bài Thơ Xanh
31
The Green Poem 32
bài thơ xám 33
The Grey Poem 34
bài thơ đen 35
The Black Poem 36
Bà Hàng Xóm Mỹ 37
My American Neighbor 39
Đạo 41
Tao 42
Xuân Ca 43
Spring Song 44
Cho Con Thiên Thần 45
My Angelic Maiden 46
Đôi ngả 47
Parting Ways 48
Chân Lý 49
49
Truism 50
Khổng Tử 51
51
Confucius 52
Tự Do 53
Freedom 54
Mai Mốt Tôi Về 55
56
When I Return 57
Sục sôi 59
59
Raging 60
Mặt Trời Ơí ! 61
Hello Sun! 62
Cảm Tạ Ơn Đời 63
Thanks to Life's Blessings 64
Hoang Vu 65
Desolation 66
Trong Đêm Mưa Rơi 67
Rainfall in the night 68
Trời Cao Đất Rộng 69
Vast Earth and Sky 70
Nhớ Nguyễn Du 71
In Memory of Nguyen Du* 72
Cảm ơn Tạo Hóa 73
Thank You Creator 74
Giọt Lệ 75
Tears 77
Thiên Đường Nhỏ 79
Little Paradise 80
Liễu 81
Willow 82
Hoa Đào 83
Cherry Blossoms 83
Tại Sao Thu Đến 84
Whence cometh Autumn 84
Mặt Nạ 85
Tuy quen lâu mà lạ 85
Đón trước lại rào sau 85
Mask 85
Bỡ Ngỡ 86
Estranged 86
Khi Con còn bé 87
When You Were Young 89
Tình Quân Em Đã Lại 91
My Love Had Arrived 92
Ngọc của Anh 93
Your Jade 94
Bài Thơ Cho Huế 95
A Poem for Hue City 97
Năm 2000 99
Hail! Year 2000 100
Chuyện Ngày Xưa 101
An Old Tale 103
