Four generations under one roof is already rare

Yet five generations is even rarer still

In this world how few enjoy such inheritance

Blessings and fortune abounding, how precious oh!

Filial piety fulfilled, not necessarily attained

Sincere heart, wise courage, how many times wished

Heaven loves, Buddha delivers, rewarding the effort

That grace, deep gratitude, so exceeding!

Please let grandfather know news of home

Relatives on both sides, near and far, how are they

How do Ba Lan, Bình live

Have husband and children advanced well or not

Do husband and wife earn a good salary?

Do the younger ones work and dance, waiting through the night?

Grandfather hopes, grandfather dreams, grandfather wishes

Grandfather prays the Dharma poetic soul delivers

Help so that spring water there

Help the whole clan be well-fed all their lives!

(Dedicated to Mrs. Nhi)

Hearing news that Phòng fell at home,

Face bleeding, surely quite painful!

Mrs. Nhi, seeing this, her heart grieved

Hurried over, stayed long to help right away.

Mrs. Kim, always present, foremost

But Vietnamese, gentle one, she does not speak

Mrs. Nhi, a Vietnamese, of good heart

Attentive, confiding, sympathizing with the elderly

Helping one another in times of pain, ah!

Even though it is not one's own case!

Only then know, the beauty, the glory

Is the open heart, offered of oneself!

Hoping Heaven, in the ninth realm,

Blesses her wishes fulfilled, and lifts and helps her!

Office closed, An arrives in the evening

The worker waits, right at evening the shift ends

An immediately fulfills the dream

Helping father and mother, staying with them somewhere

Fred Meyer taken to at the first step,

Then together explore for a long while all around

An pushes mother leisurely

Father pushes his own, going alongside as a pair

Visiting here and there until tired

An buys peaches, milk, then returns

Home to eat and drink contentedly

Then watch the screen right nearby

At midnight, the butterfly dream by the side

The whole family sleeps so peacefully, unexpectedly

At five o'clock grandmother has already risen

Grandmother quickly informs the whole family too

Age fourteen, fifteen years

Inner self changes, easily mistaking the path

Father and mother know nothing at all

School has not yet taught the way to go and return

Thus the wicked enemy is fearsome

To cultivate within the five organs is not easy for the word 'heart'

So many young men and women silently

Follow the path of love, mouth mute, clumsy in action

Life's age half-spent, reputation lost

A sudden mistake, not easily healed

Thus dragging along, walking, bowing the head

Hiding away, hiding again, but the sign shows at once

Now like foolish, like mad

Wanting to cultivate, to live kindly, not easily done

Father and mother miserable beyond compare

Whom to lament to, what to say now

How to wash clean the stain

What medicine can cure the hours of illness and pain

Go to temple, worship Buddha, hoping to pray

A peaceful mind is the wish

Cultivate more, cultivate further to complete

Cultivate by day and month to soothe the heart

Cultivate going, cultivate standing, this too

Cultivate working, cultivate resting to build the golden dream

Having cultivated, do not abandon halfway

Being one's own master, the heart finds peace

Correcting errors, the good path is clear

Body and mind become good again as at the start

Thus Heaven helps through the night watch

Thus Buddha delivers, all sorrow gone, how joyful!

A few words to send in greeting

Hoping always healthy, always warm and fresh

In the home always laughter

Family active, fully content

Children and grandchildren living purely

Friends visiting within a truly close circle

In-laws, neighbors attentive

Homeland and country, clear clouds, fair skies

News going and returning, talking

Friendship's feelings, many small words recorded

Rejoice to make up for those memories

Migration full of worry but when

When going far away to foreign lands.

Wishing greed and desire not to arise,

Then though the body sickens, fear nothing.

Arrogance, if you wish to be free of its bind

Fear no hardship, what is strange about it

Wishing one's learning to penetrate all

The mind's troubles, all must be followed through

Strong and firm, the resolve you wish to bear

The thorny career, do not be vexed by struggle

Avoiding arrogance is to be an immortal

When work fails, keep wisdom and steadfast heart

Wishing righteousness to be pure

Even if one's words are lost, the head is not lost

How to avoid giving rise to self-pride

Not getting one's way is a good medicine

Bestowing kindness, a good heart clear now

No need for return, the debt repaid shines bright

Straight words to the face, do not toy

For toying with mind and wit, in time turns dark

Injustice and grievance, endured without cowardice

No need to express, praise gathers renown