Nguồn Cội

Selected Poem

Thursday, 5. November 2009, 07:16:39

One More Musical Note = Thêm Một Nốt Nhạc
Poem by Y’ Nga
English translated by Thoai Lien
Music by Nguyen Van Thanh
http://www.danchuca.org/128kbps/OneMoreMusicalNote.mp3 (hi-speed)
http://www.danchuca.org/22Kbps/OneMoreMusicalNote.mp3 (lo-speed)

*From witnessing the (Vietnamese) youngsters shed tears for Michael Jackson.

Forewords: In Vietnam, where the government has put in jail anyone who shows sympathy to those arrested for saying the truth, it allows people to do almost anything else but to voice his or her view toward the government, particularly in the recent discovery that Vietnam has agreed to let China occupy some land inside Vietnam’s territory.

1.
You cry,
Showing affection for a musician.
Is there anyone shedding tears for those in prison?

You cry,
Showing affection for an American
Is there anyone shedding tears for our people -- VietNam ?

I congratulate you,
Though the children of "the high-ranking" communists;
Though the "atheists", you still have the hearts to feel.

I congratulate you,
“Not” crazy nor untamed,
Enemy's intruding our country, not lying motionless!

Please hear me well!
Please give a bit more sentiment
To feel the nation's ill-fate
Love your kin and your neighbors
Love the victims, being beaten up half-death.
Love the poor who have to sell their blood to feed their children.
Please hear me well!

2.
I congratulate you,
“Not” crazy nor untamed,
Enemy's intruding our country, not lying motionless!

Please hear me well!
Love the nation tragically distraught,
No “Rock, Pop”. Too many shedding tears!
Learn to appreciate
The hardship our forefathers have built the nation
Their blood, our history had recorded over the years… not for them to sell.
Please hear me well!
Please hear me well!

I also regret having lost a great artist,
But the greater pain still lies on the nation!
I also admire a talented musician
But the one I love the most is still VietNam !
Please hear me well!
The one I love the most
The one I love the most
The one I love the most is still VietNam !

One More Musical Note
Translated by Thoai Lien

*From witnessing the youngsters shed tears for Michael Jackson

You cry,
Showing affection for a musician.
Is there anyone shedding tears for those in prison?

You cry,
Showing affection for an American?
Is there anyone shedding tears for our nation -- Việt Nam ?

(I) congratulate you,
Though the children of "the high-ranking" communists;
Though the "atheist", (you) still have the hearts to feel.

(I) congratulate you,
“Not” crazy nor untamed,
Enemy's intruding, not lying motionless!

Hear me well!
Please give a bit more sentiment
To feel the nation's ill-fate

Hear me well!
Love your kin and your neighbors
Love the poor who have to sell their blood to feed their children.
Love the victims, being beaten up multiple times
Love the nation tragically under distraught,
No “Rock, Pop”*. many shed tears!

Hear me well!
Learn to appreciate
The hardship our forefathers have built the nation
Their blood, our history had recorded over the years…
It's not for the successors to sell.

I also regret having lost a great artist,
But the greater pain still lies on the nation!
I also admire a successful, talented individual
But the one I love most is still Việt Nam !

Ý Nga, 30.6.2009.

* Michael Jackson was the musician being admired by lots of fans through his performance “soul, Funk, disco, rock”; he was also honored as the king of “Pop”.

THÊM MỘT NỐT NHẠC

*Nhân xem hình các em ở Hà Nội tưởng niệm ca, nhạc sĩ Michael Jackson

Các em khóc,
thương một người nghệ sĩ
Có em nào thương khóc đời tù giam?

Các em khóc,
thương cho một người Mỹ?
Có em nào thương khóc cả… Việt Nam?

Mừng các em,
dù “con Đoàn, cháu Đảng”;
dù “vô thần” vẫn… rung động trái tim.

Mừng các em
“không” cuồng say thác loạn
Giặc vào nhà, chớ lười lĩnh nằm im!

Nhé các em!
Xin thêm chút tình cảm
Hãy cùng đau với vận nước thăng trầm

Nhé các em!
Thương bà con, chòm xóm
Thương dân nghèo phải bán máu nuôi con
Thương dân oan đang trăm đòn chí tử
Thương quê hương đang cung điệu trầm buồn,
Không “Rock, Pop”*. Lệ bao người chan chứa

Nhé các em! Hãy thêm lòng biết ơn
Bao công khó của tiền nhân dựng nước
Máu Cha Ông, sử ghi lại lòng son
Không phải để cho cháu con bán nước.

Ta cũng tiếc một tài năng vừa mất
nhưng niềm đau rất lớn vẫn: San Hà!
ta cũng phục người đa tài, thành đạt
Nhưng thương nhiều vẫn duy nhất: Việt Nam!

Ý Nga, 30.6.2009.