UNDER THE PURPLE FLOWERS  

In the purple flowers' shade

You kissed me the first kiss.

The moon lit its light of jade;

The cicadas sang their song of bliss.

Then, time passed fast and blind;

You went to your studies above

Leaving the purple flowers behind

With such a dreamlike love.

In each letter sent to the old place

You said you still missed this start

With the purple flowers of grace

And this young and true heart.

I have come back each day alone

To see the old flowers obsess

And hear the cicadas groan;

I feel such a vague distress.

I have nurtured my pastoral love

Now that summer is back to see

With the purple flowers above

I am an amorous banyan tree.

Vietnamese poem by NGÔ BÍCH LAN

English translation by THANH-THANH