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Seeing Off My Grandma

(see also Vietnamese translation)

The pale yellow receding sunset
Disappears in a wink of the eye.
Stilled are all motions,
Hushed are all sounds.

A dog, already asleep,
Ulters a throaty gurgle, in the wind;
The silent, serene whole village.

The dew drops sob in the roof gutters
The green tongues of banana leaves lap at the window panes.
As the roosters urge time, only memories remain
A chilly breeze steals over yuor mouth

Perhaps you are too tired of being awake
Perhaps you want to sleep awhile
Then I will tell the cricket not to stir
Frogs to hush, and bats to stay still.

I will not let the sunshine pry open you eyelids.
Nor let the wind sweep your eyebrows
Nobody will be allowed to awaken you.
I will hold a bamboo umbrella to shelter your sleep.

Perhaps you hear earthworms turning dirt,
Perhaps you hear grassroots sucking water.
Perhaps prettier than man's cursing voice.
Is this kind of music you now hear.

I will let you sleep, yes let you sleep.
Close your eyes now, tightly
I will cover you gently with yellow earth
and tell paper ashes to fly lightly.

For I know, the Guest is already right on front of you.
I close my eyes and watch you follow Him away.
I was glad to hear you say to me as you departed.
My child, I will go into the house of the Lord.

Martin Huỳnh