Hearing a film about the wondrous Buddha's Dharma

the bell, the wooden fish, through the night unforgettable

So much of the past, oh how bad!

Try hard to cast it off, to help life change!

So many good traits seen now

Must keep them, don't change your heart

Live somehow not muddy, but clear

Fame, talent, and beauty—three circles to weigh

Need much, need little, it depends

Need just enough, no danger at all

Greed will leave you torn to shreds

Riding an elephant, falling to a dog, because life is too greedy

Life's affairs, so many people cling on

So we must learn to drop greed and be happy at once!

Precious indeed the Buddha-heart of the in-laws

Gave a carved frame that is so beautiful!

"A hundred years of great longevity" the words issue

Wishing Phong Thảnh, to enjoy old age well!

This kindness forever remembered, the in-laws

Praying that Mrs. Định may live long

Peace, blessing, Buddha's bounty from the start

Family happiness is the congratulation!

On a day this past June just gone

Heart aching, head throbbing, thought I'd pass away

Minh, Hoà, Thuận came to find the doctor

The hospital saved in time, the illness soon gone

Two bags of IV fluid, miracle medicine

Buddha and Heaven delivered, living kindly recovers at once

Near and far, telephones day and night

grandchildren, children, friends wishing luck and blessing

in-laws, words like a painting

Hoping the tree heals, hoping the branch blooms

the love, remembered forever unfaded

Thank you all, in-laws, relatives.

Refusing the moon, thinking I'd already died

Heart disease relapsed, and age is high too

So I grew weary of the sky and loved ones

The essential things, the things to mind

Never expected the family to be so deeply sad

Tears flowing, red eyes, murmuring prayers

Praying not to hurry off anywhere

Praying to stay, to watch the flock of grandchildren

The family, living so completely

That is the blessing, the vermilion mark of the house

Now, let me sing, let me chant

Since I've recovered, the whole family should be glad

Should forget those sorrowful moments

Let me atone, let me be content.

thought there could be no reunion

Who'd have thought the illness healed, coming here to gather together

The family gathers in shared joy

Plus a wedding, also within this week

An-Phụng organized this gathering

eagerly wanting to seize the lucky chance of a crowd

so the gathering was all the more lively

eating and drinking fully, everyone gave praise

Next year, will we still gather?

If father has passed, will the rosy picture remain?

Discuss it, don't speak carelessly

If father or mother passes, try harder to help the family

Please don't rush to cry out

Shouldering common tasks is what deserves praise

love one another, don't blow your own horn

Keep filial love, its fragrance soaring to the sky

(Composed on a Delta plane

flying from Knoxville to Seattle)

My own strength, I know better than anyone

hands numb, head aching, fortune declining

Mind and thought, life dragging on dependent

Missing children, missing grandchildren, driven to surrender

If there's still a little consideration

Then just let it go, easily done

If they live with a divided heart

Then just endure it, what more to hope for.

Composed on a Delta plane

(flying from Knoxville to Seattle)

In marriage, exchanging rings for each other

symbolizing love and duty, kept in mind

Up mountains, down hills, what to mind

Husband to husband, wife to wife, nothing to fear

Whatever matter, must be discussed together

Sun and rain, frost and snow, must have each other

True heart, true feeling, rich in virtue

The ring worn to remember, faithful from first to last

Yesterday, digging clams, digging oysters

Young and old, big and small, whatever the size

How to buy oysters, buy clams

seeing the hole narrow, easy to go in and out or not

Flesh and skin, white, red, or pink

If fragrant, if cool, worth the effort of digging oysters

Digging and yet getting to eat one's fill

Next time, dig more, so auntie also may eat.