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.

Remembering Tet

Quét tuyết bên này nhớ Tết ta
Hồng hồng xác pháo đỏ sân nhà
Đêm qua đón Tết giao thừa đến
Sáng nay thức dậy đón Xuân sang
Tha hương vị Tết bùi ngùi tưởng
Thắp nén nhang lòng nhớ tổ tiên.

Writer's Notes
Đầu năm khai bút... Viết nhân dịp Tết Giáp Ngọ 2014.
Written on the first day of Tet (Vietnamese Tết Nguyên Đán Lunar New Year).

Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights
Photo by Mei

Christmas comes, Christmas stays
This season and everyday.

In the darkness of night,
Rising star guides the way
To the place where peace is,
In our hearts on this very day.

At the break of dawn,
Radiant sun reigns the day
Divine Light, Eternal Truth,
Giver of life, justice shines.

O Love unbounded, blesses us all
An encounter with the Light
As we walk in this life,
Journeying home back to You.

Christmas comes and Christmas stays.

Writer's Notes
The above set of verses was written with inspirations from the Christmas video message from Father Rothan, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Hershey, the front page article “Christmas Lights Reflect Truth that Christ is Light of World, Pope Says” by Cindy Wooden of Catholic New Services found on The Catholic Witness December 20, 2013 Volume 45, Number 25 and the homily of Pope Francis on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord at the Midnight Mass (24 December 2013).

While its first draft was completed on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the final draft was later edited for posting on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

Pictured is Mei’s very own decorated tabletop Christmas tree. The photo was edited using Google+ photo.

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".

Peace on Earth

Peace rains on earth today
God is with us, Emmanuel!

Christmas Day 2013

Writer's Notes
Originally written on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
Bốn tuần Mùa Vọng đón Giáng Sinh
Hân hoan mừng Chúa giáng sinh ra đời.