Tran Dang Khoa

There is a legend that originates in Vietnamese culture that claims in times of turmoil a country will be blessed with the existence of a child poet. Tran Dang Khoa is thought to have been the realization of that legend. Born in 1958 near Hanoi, Khoa lived in an area of the country that was a main route for soldiers heading south into battle. There are many stories that relate how the young poet would recite his verses to soldiers as they waited until morning to resume their journey. Khoa’s poetry is known for its simple and clear verse.

 
 
Alabaster Stork

When rain blackens the sky
                                   in the east,
when rain blackens the sky
                                  in the west,
when rain blackens the sky
                                  in the south, the north,

I see a stork white as alabaster
take wing and usher in the rain. . .

Rice in the paddy ripples
                                  like a broad flag,
potato plants send up
                                  their dark green leaves,
the palm tree opens
                                  its fronds to catch the drops.
The toads and frogs
                                  sing all day and all night,
and fish flicker away
                                  dancing to that tune.

But no one sees in the branches
the stork shivering in the cold. . .

When rain blackens again
                                   in the east,
when rain blackens again
                                   in the west,
when rain blackens again
                                   in the south, the north,

I see that stork white as alabaster
take wing to proclaim the rain again.

(Translated by Nguyen Ba Chung and Fred Marchant)