Page 154 - Dragon&Fairy in Poetry

Dragon & Fairy In Poetry
Translation by THANH-THANH

YOUR SHADOW WAS SO

ROUND
Original “Bóng Đỗ
Tròn Vo” by Ý NGA

Your bent back made your shadow so round;
You cried when seeing me off, spirit so downed.
It was not mountains to cross, jungles to go thru,
But so hard I could not come back to visit you!

I deplored you, Dad being lonely, simple, sincere,
So heart-whole that I felt repenting in tears blear.
But, alas, after that farewell, not yet less sad,
I had to return, heart-broken to mourn for Dad!
*
Staggering home, on slanting shadow, in tears sea:
From now on, death has separated Dad from me!
From this day forth, I have no more the father dear
Who will for this young care, up this child cheer!

No more for any kid to stick to you along behind
For against-Chinese, anti-French tales you remind.
Hence, into toil and moil I have to myself bring.
Who will lovingly educate me into a good thing?

*
Oh Dad! I am calling you, Dear Dad, Dad mine!
So long I have wept the tears are still salted, brine.

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