The Sea Diary
Translated by Thanh Quang
1
we have heard the cry of newborn babies
the sound brings parents to happiness
the seed of life urgently germinates
welcoming the exuberance of new life with elation
as well, we have many times heard the mourning
of life's common separation
though perishingly cold, there is still warmth left
flowing to the next generation
2
but there is such a disastrous and miserable cry
the escaping night running into darkness
the sea is coldly silent and you are hungered
unsteady
fearful
gloomy
a group of beasts with human faces maliciously surrounding
pirating, raping, devastatingly, eagerly
pirating, raping, insanely, savagely
3
deep in your broken heart, you know the sweet years are dead
since our lives
the smiles have
withered
since the day of departure, our house ruined
our country lost
since life with no truth left
please keep faith my dear
in our hearts, our country's flag still proudly flies
keep believing, keep forging onward
it does not matter that their hearts are still red or not
nor that their hearts are full of hidden dangerous thorns
4
o wind, lull the lapping wave for me!
o wind, soothe my rage!
immense is the sea of sound
peacefulness has escape kindness
the time that peaceful country nourishes you growing-up
now collapses even the morning sun
this resentment accumulated among vicissitudes
this trace carved from the storm last night
5
o grain of salt, carry my sister's animosity!
o grain of salt, absorb her utmost animosity!
the first freedom, vicious freedom between human beings
pirates
violence
beastliness
searching for freedom, blindingly dazzling the truth
the truth
shivering
sickenly disgusting, oh
the five continents
the lesson for today and for tomorrow
6
please be calm my dear even though there are many injuries
welcome the road ahead
a grain of rice is divided in half,
homelands night is wrought with pain
the country is unified but ever separated
mother still sits with the lamp in darkness in that direction
bent-backed father and brother toil in deep jungles
among commendations concealing crimes
peace, happiness to eternity
7
the road we go is still indistinct and distant
is weary humanity aware of this
though separated from our homeland but not detached
promises that on our return the rain and wind will abate
8
why is there separation from the depths of my heart
the night is forlorn
Country already parted
of those remaining, who's alive, who's lost
lingeringly flickering a late star
the holy sword sharpened in maternal eyes for a thousand nights in the past
country lost, you children have to liberate it
a million souls unite to form a torch
history majestically blazes
9
from now on you are the migratory heron
carrying the warm blood of thousand years the ancestral Lac bird
your soul adrift, still reluctant to part with the homeland
freedom spreads out immensely
Nguyen Duc Batngan
Indonesia, 1979
Original title: Nhat Ky Bien