Chasing after fashion trends, alas

too new indeed, aren't you afraid?

Easy to be swept along, letting the moment pass

Beware of regret, it will be too late!

Lying at night pondering, weighing good and bad

Measure, think ahead, so to decide

Content with one's lot, still hoping for the future

Following the high, when falling, will be dangerous!

Now children, now grandchildren of Phùng Lê

Guarding, when a hundred years old, going down to the netherworld

Guarding to search, to collect

Ancestors long ago shrouded and buried

My grandparents, parents

Together with brothers, sisters lying or sitting how

Hoping that each and every one

All rest in peace, wishes fulfilled

Guarding, using the call of the cuckoo bird

Advising children, grandchildren to be kind, remember father

Looking at the picture, imagining a fairy maiden

Descending from heaven to visit the land of Vietnam

Red scarf draped, going to work

flowered trousers, black and red, who wouldn't like to look

Bag carried also red, ask

Buddha and Heaven bless, help protect

help the family with matters of crossing

The boat reaching the shore, warmth and plenty all life

The Lã Lê clan has spoken

Peace and good health, prayer of pleading

Wishing my child recovery, healthy and fresh

Your husband delighted, mouth laughing joyfully

Then still so many, tasks piled up

Fully settled and complete, husband and wife in harmony

The Buffalo year, its toil has passed

The Tiger year brings the house full of blessings to enjoy

Hoping wealth overflows

Enjoying and sharing joy, your heart content

(For Uncle Thư and brother Dung)

Already old, why compose verse exchanges

Eyes dim, mind hazy and forgetful

Whoever invites for drinks, glad to join in

Including Tân Phụng, won't overindulge

The Lê clan lost, why not respond

Take out the gun, respond at once

Even fairies still compose, up in the blue heaven

The city will surrender, nothing strange

Which river separates the two shores

Which mountain divides the slopes of so many people

Buddha lets the grass and trees be fresh

Buddha decrees, arranging all, the whole of life

Regarding dust of the world becoming the netherworld

From now leaving behind the life of suffering

Buddha's scripture read again gradually

If Buddha shows mercy then all kin will benefit

My younger sister is no stranger

Same mother, also kin

Spending money to buy a ticket, attentive

coming to visit America, journeying here

Children and grandchildren wherever they may be

all gathering back, elected, truly joyful

My sister, fragrant renown

Wishing her joyful, strong and happy all life

Thanks to Ân for organizing today

Family and friends gather together this day

Wishing Phòng and Thành long life together

this year a hundred years, living together in one house

This poem is a gift of the forefathers

This kindness remembered forever, never dare forget

Vowing to repay the debt of gratitude

Advising children and grandchildren, all in harmony

Help oneself then help the whole family

Then help the country, only then is the heart at peace

Sore feet so I rest from the treadmill

Resting long a whole month, too much, becomes worry

Today re-examining both feet

The soles no longer sore, no more worry now

Practice walking half an hour then stop

No pain, no soreness, standing and sitting all well

Tomorrow, walk again, to make up

For the days already rested, only then complete, only then whole

Keeping the body well and safe

Then the mind is happy, happiness overflowing, long life!

Now children, now grandchildren of Phùng Lê

have set out all the issues

The health of Phòng Lê is now spent

Only waiting for the order to depart

if the family feels love and pity

Then descend to visit, in the moment of stillness or trance

What fate holds, not yet clearly known

Whatever happens, meeting face to face, at the time of departure!

Although seventy-nine, still in springtime

Healthy, cheerful, in this earthly realm

Sons and daughters successful, thanks to guidance

Friends trusted, becoming close

Visiting children, visiting grandchildren, in leisure

Reminding of words of advice, made fresh

Accumulating virtue is cultivation within the heart

Praiseworthy the aspiration, of one common man

Rổ Đi, coming back Ret, so beautiful

Big flowers, colorful, looking then, enchanted

Green, yellow, red, purple, in abundance

Plus pure white in myriad forms to gaze upon

The sky clear as if to take, still asking

Just sit, just admire, keep and cherish one another

A faithful heart, please don't fade in color

Spring goes, summer comes, before and after the love remains

I took the exam at age thirteen

By the age of fourteen came home as a daughter-in-law

My father had no fields or trees

By the year of turmoil you had no home

I lay thinking so vastly

A brood of children in two seasons, also with me

Out on the road the world small at the doorstep

Who knows, the suffering I have grown used to

So many days and months and years drift by

so many years waiting, hoping to reunite together

hoping for return and reunion

hoping to reunite together in one house

I took the exam at age thirteen

By age fourteen came home as a daughter-in-law

My father had no fields or trees

By the year of turmoil you had no home

I lay thinking so vastly

A brood of children in two seasons, also with me

Out on the road I felt better than others

Within the burden no one looks

Thought I had become like a fairy

How could kneeling in submission trouble my heart!

My hair cut short, cowboy style

How to answer the words you dreamed of

Away from you I feel so afraid

Wistful, I wish you would come back beside me

Each evening the shadow slants by the lamp

Girl and boy talking, words all joyful

The cold room, I feel melancholy

My thoughts hovering on clouds nine layers high

Husband and wife had truly sweet weeks

How could you bear to leave me alone and desolate

The sky sad, the earth weeps, I grieve

Anxiously wondering how to fulfill the marriage bond

I hope for completeness in every way

I dream to make whole as those ten years

Somewhere, morning visits, evening greetings

Words and manners pleasing to the parents

The painting of the God of Longevity, vast

How to keep it beautiful, diligent and lasting

My hair cut short, cowboy style

How to answer the words you dreamed of

Away from you, the boat still far from shore

Wistful, I say I dream you near

Each evening the shadow slants, endlessly weaving

Girl and boy talking Tân, Tân, so joyful

faintly you already knew

Thoughts hovering, bitter with love's sorrow

Please don't think idle thoughts

Please don't bear to leave me alone and desolate

The sky sad, gloomy, gloomy

Anxiously wondering who will lead me now

I long and dream all this time

How to stay there, full of tenderness

true heart lies within us

That painting witnesses, the poem's soul rich

The picture looks so beautiful, dignified

Yellow scarf, red scarf, some at advanced age

Old gentlemen, not a single one seen

Those seated, women, of advanced age clearly

Standing behind, men and women well-dressed

Taking photos, wishing longevity to relatives, precious!

Fortunate to have this gathering

Praying to Heaven and Buddha for luck all life!