Sound of Rain

While visiting the Haw Par Village, we were caught in the cool downpours of Malaysia. Standing under the showers reminded me so much of mưa Saìgòn, mưa Hànội. Because traveling made it difficult to post, I had to wait until now to post this poem, which is dear to my heart. Therefore, this weeks' poem is about the rain. The experience of this poem is slightly marred by my crude and un-versed literal translation of the original. So much is lost in the translation -- far more than the rhythm, the rhymes, the meter, the couplets, the imageries, etc. I can only say that the translation is more of a wild, crazy downpour as opposed to the misty rain of the poet's verses.



Tiếng Mưa

Gió mưa là bệnh của trời
Sầu tư là bệnh của người tha hương

Ngoài trời mưa vẫn cứ rơi
Gợi buồn cho khách phương trời xa quê
Mưa rơi như gọi sầu về
Sầu đong lại thấy tái tê hơn nhiều
Trong gian nhà nhỏ tiêu điều
Nằm nghe mưa gõ tàu tiêu thêm buồn
Ai làm gió táp mưa tuôn
Mưa ơi! mưa có vương buồn như ta
Hay riêng cho khách xa nhà
Gieo thương gieo nhớ, gợi ta điều gì?
Gió mưa chợt đến bất kỳ
Nghe như sầu oán thầm thì trên không.

-Tự Khê, ở Hà Tây


The Sound of Rain

Outside rain continues to fall
Hinting of longings of a guest-traveler heavens-separated from earth-country
Rain falls like calling sadness homeward
Wintry sorrow seemingly frostier than ever
Inside this forlorn space
lying by, listening to rain knock sadness from banana leaves
Who has caused the wind to whistle, the rain to pelt
Rain! Do you call forth such sadness as mine
or is this solely for the guest-traveler far-away from home
casting loves, casting memories, leaving something behind?
Winding rain unexpectedly appearing
So much like sorrow whispering in space.

- trans. HT, December 2006