Grandpa

In the middle of winter
Suddenly comes spring
Ùa về ký ức cũ
Ôm chầm lấy người thân

Writer's Notes
(Ông) Ngoại mất vào những ngày giáp Tết, một tuần sau khi gia đình sang đến Hoa Kỳ định cư. My grandpa passed away right as the Lunar New Year was approaching, just one week after our family immigrated to the United States.

Giữa cái rét lạnh mùa đông, tất cả mọi thứ đều mới mẻ. In the midst of winter, everything was new—even the news of his passing. I try, but I can no longer recall the numbness I felt at that moment. I'm not sure I even knew how to grieve back then. Đâu đó trong dòng suy nghĩ có chút gì in denial, là Ngoại vẫn 'còn đó' ở Việt Nam. Part of me was in denial, believing Grandpa was still just waiting for us back home in Vietnam.

And it stayed that way for fifteen years. Trong một chuyến đi về Việt Nam, during a trip back to Vietnam, I began to realize that Ngoại ở trong tôi—that I am his continuation...

Và trên là vài dòng thương nhớ ngoại nhân his death anniversary. These few lines are in loving memory of my grandfather on his death anniversary. Missing you much, grandpa!

Ginkgo Tree

Ginkgo tree lá vàng óng ả
Quạt lên cùng ngọn gió mùa thu.

Golden yellow ginkgo leaves
Rustling in the autumn breeze.

Writer's Notes
Reminiscing of autumn while doing craft projects with dried fall leaves...

Spring Forward

Cuối đông darkness fades away
yields light to earth longer day.
At dawn chim hát chào ngày mới,
mộc lan hé nụ đón mừng xuân.

End of Winter/Early Spring
Daylight Savings Time (DST) 2014

Literal English Translation version:
End of winter darkness fades away
yields light to earth longer day.
At dawn birds sing to greet a new day,
budding magnolia flowers welcome spring.

A Little Gift

Little sister says "Hello, how are you chị?"
The gift is made of neither silver nor gold as it is only a poem that em gửi gấm "Tâm Tư,"
Crafted bookmark em had beautifully put, carrying Hà's thoughts of all.
Thank you em for a grateful heart!
Proud being a big sis of yours.

Writer's Notes
This first somewhat semi-bilingual poem was written about a month ago in thanking Hà, a sister friend, for a simple, yet thoughtful gift that she gave.
Literally, Vietnamese "chị" means "older sister" and "em" means "younger sister".