An Evening of Poetry and Music – Traces of Previous Lives and Love Songs for the Homeland, Part 16 of a Multi-part Series

We invite you all to listen to, “A Love Song for You,” in the collection “When Animals Are Separated.” “Like flowers bringing news on a sorrowful day Like a bird in pain forgetting the spring We are still in a sorrowful dream Dragging our feet bitterly May I love you honestly So my heart can stop freezing A quick kiss just for you Embrace a love that’s deep and true Though a long-term love, you do not wish Please put away your first dream May I love you passionately Though time holds happiness, and sorrow, unexpectedly Why so infatuated with a glamor city? Like a sparkling brocade garment Yet, your spirit is torn And your singing voice vibrates faintly Why love the flowers of bright days Withering, fragile, love’s transient phase Left forgotten, the one behind, in surprise Love you the first time Love you but worrying the next time Though the old mirror was not shining Still, the silhouette of sad love is reflected Let me love you passionately Even though I know love late”

Next is the song “Motherland,” a very famous song by composer Thu Hồ. “Every evening, standing in the backyard Looking toward the motherland in anguish… Under the dreamy moonlight, gazing toward the distant land In this faraway place, longing for my beloved hometown O this love for my native land where stays my gentle mother With graying hair, every evening shedding tears for her children… When leaving home, I accepted a life of adversity Here in another land, reminiscing happy days gone by Evening wind often reminds of our song of separation Searching for a glimpse of the homeland, hidden in the misty horizon… O Mother, when leaving, I cared not about my life Now I dream of moments under home’s sorrowful light Songs of parting were often heard when I was by your side Unexpectedly, one day came our separation time! O Mother… O Mother… O Mother…” Ladies and gentlemen, listening to Mỹ Huyền singing “Motherland,” composed by her father, I must say that I was deeply moved. Do you feel touched when we think of our faraway homeland and watch Mỹ Huyền sing?