I
gazed in the album at my dear Mom’s picture
And realized that now is so far-off her figure
I listened to the rain as if on my heart flick
The
wind blow making me agitatedly nostalgic
Although
is abundant my current subsistence
Neither my Mom nor my Dad stays in existence
As a child I was so dull being by Mom kissed
Now
that I know whom to love, Mom is missed
Mom
departed this life during a difficult time
Scurrying beneath the burden in our poor clime
Until
your last days on manioc hand to mouth
While I was in prison as a “puppet” of the South
Such
a hard period Dad and Mom bore your part
That feeling of gratitude I bury deep in my heart
Dear Mom please accept from this sad son adrift
On this commemorative day my little humble gift
Vu
Lan mid-seventh month, the filial duty event
Between
life and death how far to suffer torment
Joss-sticks
and candles spark, the wind uprears
I
don’t cry but why my eyes get wet with tears
Translation by THANH-THANH