Về bến sông xưa
MINH ĐỨC HOÀI TRINH
Áo biếc xưa về qua bến tạnh
Ngày xuân tóc mới chớm ngang vai
Chị đi thoáng chút hương xoan muộn
Sóng sánh nghiêng lòng bao gã trai
Khăn đào xưa đùa cùng gió nội
Theo người qua trăm chặng lao đao
Chị gánh sương đi từ hừng sáng
Khuya về, vai nặng gánh trăng sao!
Cậu bé ngày xưa thường tha thẩn
Ôm đàn ra bến hát nghêu ngao
Đón chị, đón quà, và đón cả
Vòng tay thơm gió bụi ngọt ngào
Hương xoan nay xa vời vợi
Thuyền cũ đi về vắng bóng ai
Lênh đênh trên bến vần thơ trắng
Nhuộm áo khăn xưa màu trăng phai.
(Trích: Thơ miền Nam trong thời chiến_Tủ sách Di sản
Văn Chương Miền Nam_Thư Ấn Quán Xuất Bản 2006-trang 361)
Coming back to
the old river_wharf in spring
English Version by NGUYEN HUU LY
Formerly, wearing her bluish robe, she came home by passing the river wharf in the fine weather
During her young days, her hair was just long enough to touch her shoulders
Her way of going was slightly spreading some fragrance of china-tree’s flowers in late flower-season
Which Raked and moved so many young men’s hearts
Her yellowish-red head-dress of the old time, joyfully amusing with praises breezes
Followed her through hundreds of stages of hardships
She had to het out of home in dense fogs at early dawn
And only came home late at night under the silky full of moon and stars!
There was in those old days a young boy often wandering here and there
Who brought in his arms a musical instrument to the river-wharf and sing for entertainment
He waited to welcome her, to het gifts from her
And even to wait for her dusty-windy but sweety embraces
The fragrance of china-tree’s flowers is something too faraway nowadays
The old boat moves back and forth without any familiar silhouette!
Alone, she seems to be floating nearby the river-wharf with some poem to be composed
And would dye her rove and heart dress in the color of the waning moon!