A poetic masterpiece by Ngân Giang, now rendered in lyrical English free
verse, set to music, and performed by Miss AI Singer.
A tribute to courage, sorrow, and the undying voice of a nation.
QUEEN TRƯNG (TRƯNG NỮ VƯƠNG)
Viet poem: Ngân Giang
English translation: Vương Thanh
Thù hận đôi lần chau khoé hạnh
Một trời loáng thoáng bóng sao rơi
Dồn sương vó ngựa xa non thẳm
Gạt gió chim bằng vượt dặm khơi
Dark shadows of stars falling in the night sky
The fire of vengeance and anger shows in her eyes
The hooves of galloping horses gather fog
as they leave the mountains behind.
Flying against the wind,
the great eagle of legend crosses the sea.
Ngang dọc non sông đường kiếm mã
Huy hoàng cung điện nếp cân đai
Bốn phương gió bão dồn chân ngựa
Tám nẻo mưa ngàn táp đóa mai
Many rivers and mountains
have seen sword and horse together.
Magnificent is the palace with her queenly glamour.
Facing the country’s plaguing rains and storms
like an enduring cherry blossom flower,
she leads her armies into war battles.
Máu đỏ cốt xong thù vạn cổ
Ngai vàng đâu tính chuyện tương lai
Hồn người chín suối cười an ủi
Lệ nến năm canh rỏ ngậm ngùi
Red blood poured to settle the thousand-year vengeance
It wasn’t planned that a throne will be gained,
But only to let the departed soul
in the other world
smile in appeasement.
A candle’s tears
trickle
throughout the night.
Lạc tướng quên đâu lời tuyết hận
Non hồng quét sạch bụi trần ai
Cờ tang điểm tướng nghiêm hàng trận
Gót ngọc gieo hoa ngát mấy trời…
The vows of vengeance,
the Viet commander does not forget.
From the high mount’n she descends
to wipe clean the dust of the world.
Her queenly footsteps bring hope
for a liberated Vietnam’s future.
Ải bắc quân thù kinh vó ngựa
Giáp vàng khăn trở lạnh đầu voi
Chàng ơi, điện ngọc bơ vơ quá,
Trăng chếch ngôi trời bóng lẻ soi
At the northern border,
wearing mourning scarf and golden armor,
she rode her elephant into battle.
On hearing the trampling of hooves coming near,
the enemies became frightened,
and ran back to their borders.
Victory after victory, but in her heart
she kept longing for her husband:
O My Love,
The tilted moon shines on my loneliness.
Without thee, the Jade Palace’s so cold and desolate.