FLAMBOYANT SEASON
May, the tick has called Summer
Light sunshine falls, clouds show off their colors
Leaving the village barefoot in brown coats
The sound of cicadas rustling along the mulberry bank behind the house.
The pond surface is rippling with waves.
Rising up memories near and far... feelings
The color of the flowers is bright red and pretty
Bouncing down my shoulders... my dear!
Looking at the phoenix flowers blooming wistfully
Waiting for petals to fall, sprout... green leaves
Full of a time of formation
Footprints of nostalgia surround the village roads.
Giao Thuy, 5/2026
Major General AHLLVT HOANG KIEN
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RECORDED AT BAC CAU VILLAGE FESTIVAL
Village festival bringing up river water
Curtains covering the sacred palanquin, tearful lights
Young men and women jostle
Tung... Tung drum urges the pair of lion to circle
See you at the end of the communal house yard
Hand raises the rim and says here I am, here I am
Ten years of wandering passionately
The communal house only sees the banyan tree alone Waiting for you from the moonrise
Until the moon recedes, not forgetting the oath
Ten years of nurturing Bodhi tree roots
The tree grows bigger and bigger, the oath is far away.
I am a girl from Bac Bien.
Obeying parents' words to marry Bac Cau
Village communal house offers betel and areca offerings
Peaceful rain, favorable wind of the past - after good predestined relationship.
5. 2026
PHUNG VAN KHAI
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MAY
You walk on the May road
ve ran chorus
the sky opens up light
for us to fly high Looking up turns out to be bright
there's a shadow at your feet
eavesdropping on the old story that you used to secretly pick the night of May, wearing purple as charm
I'm waiting for you in the lecture hall ahead
in your hand white chalk
on your head a white strand of almonds Sky over there until lovemaking time
Why turn on the lights to go to bed
I'm most afraid of searching in the dark
night falling love drops Gentle sunshine, how hot the heart
frantically anxiously
we find each other in the season of offerings
cricket strokes beard drunk Life's night bestows
we
ve ngân ngoài kia thay vũ hội
say thank you.
5. 2026
NGO DUC HANH
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RUSHING BACK
Silently with every summer
Thoughtful and stirred by the sound of cicadas in the field
Enchanted by red phoenix on the roadside
Compassionate memories rushed back
Missing teachers and friends
Palm-roofed, bamboo-paved, hillside school classroom
Rustic desks we sit on
War... evacuation for a difficult time
The era of endless subsidies
Future of wishes filled with poetic love
Silly love and longing
And many memories are still not over
Rushing back to distant memories
Remembering the love of couples back then
Lotus flowers fragrant and noble
Purple crape myrtle full of love
Purple May grass blooms along the road
Sticking to life, lingering in the heart
Even in a deep sleep
The shadow of the white shirt floats in the wind
Happy class reunion today
The wistful warmth of friends' hands
A sky of memories rushed back
Passionate and touching, passionate about life.
5. 2026
LAI KHAC SAM
