UNDER THE PURPLE FLOWERS
“I suddenly remember and miss
I suddenly reminisce about his kiss
My
lips bewitched with the old cicadas’ carol...”
(from the song “The First Kiss”)
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
become an amorous banian tree.
Translation by THANH-THANH