{"id":11057,"date":"2026-02-01T07:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T13:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/?p=11057"},"modified":"2026-02-01T20:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T02:31:55","slug":"trai-long-voi-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/?p=11057","title":{"rendered":"Tr\u1ea3i L\u00f2ng V\u1edbi B\u1ea1n – A Candid Word to a Friend"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n

\n

D\u1eabu ch\u01b0a l\u00e0 c\u1ed5 \u0111\u1ed9
\nm\u1eb7c d\u00f9 c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 h\u01a1n n\u0103m m\u01b0\u01a1i n\u0103m
\nqu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng y\u00eau d\u1ea5u xa x\u0103m
\nnh\u1edb th\u01b0\u01a1ng l\u1eafm nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ng\u00e0y tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i
\nM\u1ed9t d\u00e2n t\u1ed9c x\u01b0a th\u00f4ng minh, anh h\u00f9ng
\nm\u00e0 ng\u00e0y nay b\u1ed7ng nhi\u00ean nh\u01b0 kh\u1edd nh\u01b0 d\u1ea1i
\nb\u1ecb l\u0169 t\u1ed9i \u0111\u1ed3 x\u1ecf m\u0169i, b\u1ecbt m\u1eaft d\u1eabn d\u1eaft \u0111i
\nd\u1eabu bi\u1ebft r\u1eb1ng v\u1eadn n\u01b0\u1edbc c\u00f3 l\u00fac th\u1ecbnh l\u00fac suy
\nnh\u01b0ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u00e2n c\u1ee9 r\u0103m r\u1eafp c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u
\ntr\u01b0\u1edbc l\u0169 c\u01b0\u1eddng quy\u1ec1n ng\u1ea7n \u1ea5y n\u0103m qu\u1ea3 l\u00e0 chuy\u1ec7n l\u1ea1<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nT\u1ed9i \u0111\u1ed3 d\u00e2n t\u1ed9c VN ngo\u00e0i m\u1ea5y t\u00ean \u00e1c \u00f4n \u0111\u00e3 ch\u1ebft<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

T\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i qua m\u00f9a h\u1ea1
\nv\u00e0 \u0111ang \u1edf cu\u1ed1i m\u00f9a thu
\nS\u00e1ng m\u00f9a thu \u0111\u1ea7y nh\u1eefng s\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u00f9
\nnh\u01b0 t\u1ea5m l\u00f2ng t\u00f4i
\nm\u1ed7i khi ngh\u0129 v\u1ec1 qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc
\n\u00d4i d\u00e2n t\u1ed9c t\u00f4i v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng b\u1ea1c ph\u01b0\u1edbc
\nb\u1ecb t\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111o\u1ea1t h\u1ebft c\u1ea3 nh\u00e2n ph\u1ea9m, t\u1ef1 do
\nv\u1eabn \u0103n ch\u01a1i ph\u00e8 ph\u1ee1n, ch\u01b0a th\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ee7 lo
\nb\u1ecb \u0111\u00e8 \u0111\u1ea7u c\u01b0\u1ee1i c\u1ed5 m\u00e0 ch\u01b0a th\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ee7 nh\u1ee5c
\nh\u01a1n 90 tri\u1ec7u d\u00e2n \u0111\u00e0nh \u01b0\u01a1n h\u00e8n, khu\u1ea5t ph\u1ee5c
\nm\u1eb7c gi\u00f3 m\u01b0a, m\u1eb7c b\u00e3o t\u00e1p gi\u1eadp v\u00f9i<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1eebng c\u00f3 ai n\u00f3i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i
\nc\u00f2n hy v\u1ecdng m\u00f9a hoa sen, hoa l\u00e0i s\u1ebd n\u1edf r\u1ed9
\ntr\u00ean \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc Vi\u1ec7t Nam c\u00f9ng kh\u1ed5
\ntr\u00ean con ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u00e0 d\u0169ng l\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh xa x\u1ec9 ph\u1ea9m t\u1eeb l\u00e2u
\nN\u1ebfu b\u1ea1n c\u00f3 v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ebfn qu\u00ea m\u00ecnh
\nth\u1eed \u0111\u1ea3o m\u1eaft nh\u00ecn b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 n\u01a1i \u0111\u00e2u
\ns\u1ebd th\u1ea5y nhan nh\u00e3n thanh ni\u00ean nam n\u1eef
\ntru\u1ef5 l\u1ea1c, vui ch\u01a1i v\u1edbi bao nhi\u00eau lo\u1ea1i d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5
\nr\u1ea5t nhi\u1ec1u ki\u1ec3u \u00f4m: Karaoke, qu\u00e1n nh\u1eadu, c\u00e0 ph\u00ea\u2026
\ns\u00e2n h\u1ecdc \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, ng\u00e0nh gi\u00e1o d\u1ee5c qu\u00e1 \u00ea ch\u1ec1
\nch\u1ec9 s\u1ea3n sinh to\u00e0n l\u0169 ng\u01b0\u1eddi vong b\u1ea3n
\nX\u00e3 h\u1ed9i l\u1ea7m than
\nl\u00f2ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ly t\u00e1n
\nC\u00e1ch m\u1ea1ng n\u00e0o c\u00f2n c\u00f3 ch\u1ed7 \u0111\u1ec3 n\u1edf hoa! <\/p>\n

\u00d4i ch\u1eb7ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i qua
\nmu\u1ed1n d\u1eebng l\u1ea1i \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3
\nqu\u00e0nh tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i ch\u1ec9 \u0111\u1ec3 nh\u00ecn m\u1ed9t tr\u1eddi d\u00e2u b\u1ec3
\nth\u00f4i \u0111\u00e0nh th\u00f4i ng\u1eadm tr\u00e1i \u0111\u1eafng l\u00e0m vui
\nc\u1ea7u \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u1ee7i tay sau m\u1ed9t gi\u1ea5c ng\u1ee7 v\u00f9i
\n\u0111\u1ec3 v\u0129nh vi\u1ec5n t\u1ea5m l\u00f2ng c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n \u0111au \u0111\u1edbn
\nth\u00f4i \u0111\u00e0nh th\u00f4i! \u0110\u00e0nh ph\u1ee5 t\u00ecnh n\u01a1i ch\u00f4n nhau c\u1eaft r\u1ed1n
\nXin c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u t\u1ea1 t\u1ed9i v\u1edbi ti\u1ec1n nh\u00e2n…<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

TR\u1ea2I L\u00d2NG V\u1edaI B\u1ea0N
\nOPENING MY HEART TO A FRIEND<\/p>\n

\u1ede l\u00fac n\u1ea7y
\nAt this moment in my life,<\/p>\n

(khi tu\u1ed5i c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 nh\u01b0 m\u00e2y chi\u1ec1u \u1ea3m \u0111\u1ea1m
\n(when my age is like the darkening clouds of dusk,<\/p>\n

nh\u01b0 tia n\u1eafng cu\u1ed1i ng\u00e0y le l\u00f3i \u1edf hi\u00ean t\u00e2y)
\nlike the last faint ray of sunlight on the western porch)<\/p>\n

xin b\u1ea1n \u0111\u1eebng nh\u1eafc v\u1edbi t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 nh\u1eefng \u01b0\u1edbc m\u01a1
\nplease don\u2019t speak to me of dreams anymore,<\/p>\n

\u201cR\u1ed3i qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc s\u1ebd c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y\u2026
\n\u201cthat one day the homeland will surely\u2026<\/p>\n

\u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u1ed3n vinh; v\u01b0\u01a1n vai th\u00e0nh con r\u1ed3ng, con h\u1ed5\u201d
\nprosper, rise again as dragons and tigers.\u201d<\/p>\n

D\u1eabu ch\u01b0a l\u00e0 c\u1ed5 \u0111\u1ed9
\nThough it is not yet an ancient ruin,<\/p>\n

m\u1eb7c d\u00f9 c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 h\u01a1n n\u0103m m\u01b0\u01a1i n\u0103m
\nstill, more than fifty years have passed.<\/p>\n

qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng y\u00eau d\u1ea5u xa x\u0103m
\nMy beloved homeland lies far away,<\/p>\n

nh\u1edb th\u01b0\u01a1ng l\u1eafm nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng th\u1ea5y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ng\u00e0y tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i
\ndeeply missed, yet no return is in sight.<\/p>\n

M\u1ed9t d\u00e2n t\u1ed9c x\u01b0a th\u00f4ng minh, anh h\u00f9ng
\nA people once wise and heroic,<\/p>\n

m\u00e0 ng\u00e0y nay b\u1ed7ng nhi\u00ean nh\u01b0 kh\u1edd nh\u01b0 d\u1ea1i
\nnow suddenly reduced to folly and confusion.<\/p>\n

b\u1ecb l\u0169 t\u1ed9i \u0111\u1ed3 x\u1ecf m\u0169i, b\u1ecbt m\u1eaft d\u1eabn d\u1eaft \u0111i
\nLed by criminals\u2014noses ringed, eyes blindfolded.<\/p>\n

d\u1eabu bi\u1ebft r\u1eb1ng v\u1eadn n\u01b0\u1edbc c\u00f3 l\u00fac th\u1ecbnh l\u00fac suy
\nWe know a nation has its rise and fall,<\/p>\n

nh\u01b0ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u00e2n c\u1ee9 r\u0103m r\u1eafp c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u
\nyet the people keep bowing without question<\/p>\n

tr\u01b0\u1edbc l\u0169 c\u01b0\u1eddng quy\u1ec1n ng\u1ea7n \u1ea5y n\u0103m qu\u1ea3 l\u00e0 chuy\u1ec7n l\u1ea1
\nbefore brute power for so many years\u2014an unsettling thing.<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i qua m\u00f9a h\u1ea1
\nI have passed through summer,<\/p>\n

v\u00e0 \u0111ang \u1edf cu\u1ed1i m\u00f9a thu
\nand now stand at autumn\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

S\u00e1ng m\u00f9a thu \u0111\u1ea7y nh\u1eefng s\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u00f9
\nAutumn mornings are thick with mist,<\/p>\n

nh\u01b0 t\u1ea5m l\u00f2ng t\u00f4i
\njust like my heart<\/p>\n

m\u1ed7i khi ngh\u0129 v\u1ec1 qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc
\nwhenever I think of the homeland.<\/p>\n

\u00d4i d\u00e2n t\u1ed9c t\u00f4i v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng b\u1ea1c ph\u01b0\u1edbc
\nOh my people, so terribly ill-fated,<\/p>\n

b\u1ecb t\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111o\u1ea1t h\u1ebft c\u1ea3 nh\u00e2n ph\u1ea9m, t\u1ef1 do
\nstripped of dignity and freedom alike.<\/p>\n

v\u1eabn \u0103n ch\u01a1i ph\u00e8 ph\u1ee1n, ch\u01b0a th\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ee7 lo
\nStill indulging in pleasure, never worried enough.<\/p>\n

b\u1ecb \u0111\u00e8 \u0111\u1ea7u c\u01b0\u1ee1i c\u1ed5 m\u00e0 ch\u01b0a th\u1ea5y \u0111\u1ee7 nh\u1ee5c
\nCrushed and ridden, yet not ashamed enough.<\/p>\n

h\u01a1n 90 tri\u1ec7u d\u00e2n \u0111\u00e0nh \u01b0\u01a1n h\u00e8n, khu\u1ea5t ph\u1ee5c
\nOver ninety million resign themselves to submission,<\/p>\n

m\u1eb7c gi\u00f3 m\u01b0a, m\u1eb7c b\u00e3o t\u00e1p gi\u1eadp v\u00f9i
\nletting storms and tempests beat them down.<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1eebng c\u00f3 ai n\u00f3i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i
\nDon\u2019t tell me, please,<\/p>\n

c\u00f2n hy v\u1ecdng m\u00f9a hoa sen, hoa l\u00e0i s\u1ebd n\u1edf r\u1ed9
\nthat lotus or jasmine seasons will bloom again<\/p>\n

tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc Vi\u1ec7t Nam c\u00f9ng kh\u1ed5
\non this suffering land of Vietnam,<\/p>\n

tr\u00ean con ng\u01b0\u1eddi m\u00e0 d\u0169ng l\u01b0\u1ee3c \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh xa x\u1ec9 ph\u1ea9m t\u1eeb l\u00e2u
\namong people for whom courage has long become a luxury.<\/p>\n

N\u1ebfu b\u1ea1n c\u00f3 v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ebfn qu\u00ea m\u00ecnh
\nIf you ever return to the homeland,<\/p>\n

th\u1eed \u0111\u1ea3o m\u1eaft nh\u00ecn b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 n\u01a1i \u0111\u00e2u
\njust cast your eyes anywhere\u2014<\/p>\n

s\u1ebd th\u1ea5y nhan nh\u00e3n thanh ni\u00ean nam n\u1eef
\nyou\u2019ll see young men and women everywhere,<\/p>\n

tru\u1ef5 l\u1ea1c, vui ch\u01a1i v\u1edbi bao nhi\u00eau lo\u1ea1i d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5
\nlost in decadence, consumed by endless pleasures.<\/p>\n

r\u1ea5t nhi\u1ec1u ki\u1ec3u \u00f4m: Karaoke, qu\u00e1n nh\u1eadu, c\u00e0 ph\u00ea\u2026
\nSo many embraces\u2014karaoke, bars, caf\u00e9s\u2026<\/p>\n

s\u00e2n h\u1ecdc \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng, ng\u00e0nh gi\u00e1o d\u1ee5c qu\u00e1 \u00ea ch\u1ec1
\nSchoolyards and education itself in disgrace,<\/p>\n

ch\u1ec9 s\u1ea3n sinh to\u00e0n l\u0169 ng\u01b0\u1eddi vong b\u1ea3n
\nproducing only people cut off from their roots.<\/p>\n

X\u00e3 h\u1ed9i l\u1ea7m than
\nSociety in misery,<\/p>\n

l\u00f2ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ly t\u00e1n
\nhearts scattered apart.<\/p>\n

C\u00e1ch m\u1ea1ng n\u00e0o c\u00f2n c\u00f3 ch\u1ed7 \u0111\u1ec3 n\u1edf hoa!
\nWhat revolution could possibly bloom here?<\/p>\n

\u00d4i ch\u1eb7ng \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i qua
\nOh, the road I have traveled,<\/p>\n

mu\u1ed1n d\u1eebng l\u1ea1i \u0111\u00e3 l\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng th\u1ec3
\nstopping is no longer possible.<\/p>\n

qu\u00e0nh tr\u1edf l\u1ea1i ch\u1ec9 \u0111\u1ec3 nh\u00ecn m\u1ed9t tr\u1eddi d\u00e2u b\u1ec3
\nTo turn back is only to see a sea of upheaval.<\/p>\n

th\u00f4i \u0111\u00e0nh th\u00f4i ng\u1eadm tr\u00e1i \u0111\u1eafng l\u00e0m vui
\nSo be it\u2014I swallow bitterness and call it living.<\/p>\n

c\u1ea7u \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u1ee7i tay sau m\u1ed9t gi\u1ea5c ng\u1ee7 v\u00f9i
\nI pray to brush my hands clean after one long sleep,<\/p>\n

\u0111\u1ec3 v\u0129nh vi\u1ec5n t\u1ea5m l\u00f2ng c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n \u0111au \u0111\u1edbn
\nso this heart may ache no more.<\/p>\n

th\u00f4i \u0111\u00e0nh th\u00f4i! \u0110\u00e0nh ph\u1ee5 t\u00ecnh n\u01a1i ch\u00f4n nhau c\u1eaft r\u1ed1n
\nSo be it! I must betray the land of my birth.<\/p>\n

Xin c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u t\u1ea1 t\u1ed9i v\u1edbi ti\u1ec1n nh\u00e2n\u2026
\nI bow my head in apology to the ancestors\u2026<\/p>\n

Musical Lyric<\/strong><\/p>\n

L\u1eddi Vi\u1ec7t<\/strong><\/p>\nhttp:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Trai-Long-Voi-Ban-Yen-Son.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

\u1ede l\u00fac n\u00e0y…
\nkhi \u0111\u1eddi t\u00f4i nh\u01b0 m\u00e2y chi\u1ec1u x\u00e1m
\nnh\u01b0 n\u1eafng t\u00e0n… nghi\u00eang ph\u00eda hi\u00ean t\u00e2y
\nxin \u0111\u1eebng n\u00f3i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 gi\u1ea5c m\u01a1
\nd\u00e2n t\u1ed9c m\u00ecnh l\u00e0 r\u1ed3ng… l\u00e0 h\u1ed5…
\nnh\u01b0 \u1edf m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y… xa x\u01b0a\u2026<\/p>\n

B\u1ed1n m\u01b0\u01a1i m\u1ea5y n\u0103m r\u1ed3i
\nqu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng xa t\u1ea7m m\u1eaft
\nnh\u1edb th\u01b0\u01a1ng nhi\u1ec1u
\nm\u00e0 \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1… v\u1eabn m\u1edd m\u1ecbt, xa x\u0103m<\/p>\n

D\u00e2n t\u1ed9c x\u01b0a h\u00f9ng anh
\nnay ch\u00e1u con l\u1ea1i c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u l\u1eb7ng l\u1ebd
\nbi\u1ebft th\u1ecbnh suy
\nm\u00e0 v\u1eabn kh\u00f2m l\u01b0ng… l\u00e0m th\u00e2n n\u00f4 l\u1ec7
\n\u0111\u1ec3 m\u1eb7c b\u1ea1o quy\u1ec1n… b\u1ecbt m\u1eaft d\u1eaft \u0111i<\/p>\n

T\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i qua m\u00f9a h\u1ea1
\nv\u00e0 \u0111ang \u1edf cu\u1ed1i m\u00f9a thu
\ntim c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 ph\u1ee7 k\u00edn s\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u00f9
\nd\u0169ng kh\u00ed c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e3 ch\u00edn v\u00e0ng
\nm\u1ed7i l\u1ea7n ngh\u0129 v\u1ec1 \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc<\/p>\n

D\u00e2n t\u1ed9c
\n\u0110\u00e3 tr\u1edf n\u00ean b\u1ea1c nh\u01b0\u1ee3c
\nl\u0169 thanh ni\u00ean v\u1eabn vui ch\u01a1i, v\u00f4 c\u1ea3m…
\nh\u01a1n ch\u00edn m\u01b0\u01a1i tri\u1ec7u con ng\u01b0\u1eddi
\nch\u1ec9 bi\u1ebft nu\u1ed1t nh\u1ee5c… c\u1ea7u an<\/p>\n

\u0110\u1eebng n\u00f3i v\u1edbi t\u00f4i
\nhoa sen s\u1ebd l\u1ea1i n\u1edf
\nkhi d\u0169ng kh\u00ed c\u1ee7a gi\u1ed1ng n\u00f2i
\n\u0111\u00e3 th\u00e0nh th\u1ee9 xa x\u1ec9… t\u1eeb l\u00e2u
\nNh\u00ecn quanh qu\u00ea m\u00ecnh
\n\u1edf tr\u01b0\u1eddng h\u1ecdc
\nph\u1ea9m h\u1ea1nh, \u0111\u1ea1o \u0111\u1ee9c \u0111\u00e3 bi\u1ebfn \u0111i \u0111\u00e2u
\nm\u00e0 ch\u1ec9 th\u1ea5y to\u00e0n lo\u00e0i vong b\u1ea3n
\nx\u00e3 h\u1ed9i tan hoang
\nl\u00f2ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ly t\u00e1n
\nth\u00ec mong g\u00ec… c\u00e1ch m\u1ea1ng… n\u1edf \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u?<\/p>\n

Con \u0111\u01b0\u1eddng t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111i qua
\nth\u1eed ch\u1eadm b\u01b0\u1edbc quay \u0111\u1ea7u ng\u00f3 l\u1ea1i
\nnh\u00ecn tr\u01b0\u1edbc… nh\u00ecn sau
\nc\u00f5i l\u00f2ng t\u00ea t\u00e1i
\nTh\u00f4i c\u0169ng \u0111\u00e0nh ng\u1eadm \u0111\u1eafng, nu\u1ed1t cay
\nmong m\u1ed9t gi\u1ea5c ng\u1ee7 d\u00e0i
\nxin c\u00fai \u0111\u1ea7u t\u1ea1 t\u1ed9i
\nv\u1edbi ti\u1ec1n nh\u00e2n…
\nv\u1edbi qu\u00ea nh\u00e0…
\n<\/br><\/p>\n

English version<\/strong><\/p>\nhttp:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/A-Candid-Word-to-a-Friend-Yen-Son.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Do not tell me
\nthat one day the homeland will rise again,
\ngrow rich, stretch itself into dragons and tigers.
\nI have heard those words for half a lifetime,
\nand still the road home
\nhas vanished from sight.<\/p>\n

Fifty years and more have passed,
\nnot yet ruins, but already so far away.
\nI love that land beyond words,
\nyet no path leads me back.<\/p>\n

We know nations rise,
\nwe know nations fall\u2014
\nbut a people kneeling this long
\nbefore naked power
\nis something the heart cannot bear.<\/p>\n

Once we were sharp, once we were brave,
\nnow led blindfolded, pulled by the nose.
\nThis silence\u2014
\nthis obedience\u2014
\nis the deepest wound of all.<\/p>\n

I have walked through summer,
\nnow I stand at the end of autumn.
\nMorning mist fills the air,
\nthe same mist that fills my chest
\nwhenever I think of homeland and nation.<\/p>\n

Oh my people\u2014
\nso cruelly ill-fated,
\nstripped of dignity, stripped of freedom,
\nyet still distracted, still indulging,
\nnever afraid enough,
\nnever ashamed enough.<\/p>\n

More than ninety million bend their backs,
\nletting storms pass over them.
\nThey survive\u2014
\nbut do not stand.<\/p>\n

Tell me then,
\nhow long must a people endure
\nbefore endurance becomes surrender?<\/p>\n

Do not tell me
\nthat lotus or jasmine will bloom again.
\nCourage has become a luxury,
\nresolve a forgotten word.<\/p>\n

Return home, if you can\u2014
\nlook anywhere you choose:
\nyoung lives drowning in noise and pleasure,
\nschools in disgrace,
\na nation raising the rootless.<\/p>\n

A broken society,
\nscattered hearts\u2014
\nwhat revolution could still take root here?<\/p>\n

I have walked too far to stop.
\nTurning back shows only ruin and upheaval.
\nSo I swallow the bitter fruit
\nand call it fate.<\/p>\n

I pray that after one final, heavy sleep
\nthis heart will ache no more.
\nSo be it.
\nI must abandon the land where I was born.<\/p>\n

I bow my head
\nin apology
\nbefore the ancestors.<\/p>\n

<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u1ede l\u00fac n\u1ea7y \/ (khi tu\u1ed5i c\u1ee7a t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 nh\u01b0 m\u00e2y chi\u1ec1u \u1ea3m \u0111\u1ea1m \/ nh\u01b0 tia n\u1eafng cu\u1ed1i ng\u00e0y le l\u00f3i \u1edf hi\u00ean t\u00e2y) \/ xin b\u1ea1n \u0111\u1eebng nh\u1eafc v\u1edbi t\u00f4i v\u1ec1 nh\u1eefng \u01b0\u1edbc m\u01a1 \/ \u201cR\u1ed3i qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng \u0111\u1ea5t n\u01b0\u1edbc s\u1ebd c\u00f3 m\u1ed9t ng\u00e0y\u2026 \/ \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c ph\u1ed3n vinh; v\u01b0\u01a1n vai th\u00e0nh con r\u1ed3ng, con h\u1ed5\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,9,1,17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11057"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11057"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11060,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11057\/revisions\/11060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thovanyenson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}