UPLIFTING POEMS / RAISE YOUR HEADS / a poem by THE PHONG .

 Asian Morning Western Music ,  poems by  The Phong This Edition , Jan.2012  - HCM City . 

                                                                        R A I S E    Y O U R    H E A D S
                                                                                 a poem by THEPHONG
                                                              translated from the vietnamese by  ĐÁM XUÂN CẬN

1.

When  they have much money ,
           sure  you can ask then to buy this or that
Sure
           they are the cream of society
Sure
           their services can never be free
Sure
           their hands are clean thanks to good ,
                                               expensive soap
Sure
           their teeth are clean and shinning
           ( for the same reason )
Sure
           their voices  are resounding
           because full of pride
They come to you
           do nothing for you
anyway
           they expect too much from you
" I tell you
          nobody needs to worry about them ".


2.

Whatever you do which involves no real labor ,
           no genuine care ,
           no love on your partner
I couldn' t care less about it
           because  it has no value
They should have suffered ,
           but now it is too late for that
They should have earned their life honestly ,
           but they should have the will
They should have known humility
           so that they are not full of arrogance
Really they have never known real love
           so they should not talk of love
" I tell you ,  they are downright contemtiple ".


3.

Today
         I walk Saigon streets in sunny weather
The air is invigorating
         I am enjoying myself
I feel myself a new man
Cheer up ,
 Dear fellow .
 []

Saigon, July 17 , 1963 .
THEPHONG

( from  ASIAN MORNING WESTERN MUSIC ,
  poems by THE  PHONG.
  First published by DAI NAM VAN HIEN BOOKS ,
Saigon 1971.
 -  This Edition ,Jan . 2012 -  Ho Chi Minh City .
p. 58- 60  ) .