A Cat Also Knows How To Swim Poem by NHIEN NGUYEN MD

Today, I plan to close my swimming pool
After vacuuming the pool and adding chemicals.
I check for appropriate PH and chlorine.
Suddenly, I like to swim one more time before Summer folds.
My wife joins me in swimming one hundred laps of the pool.
Pool water is crystal clear and water ripples gently spread.
Sunshine hides behind many thick hanging clouds.
Pine trees stand still as they wait for a breeze.
Cicadas sing their last songs before their singing season stops.
Around the pool, many red Knockout roses bloom.
Without scorching sun, rose petals are much more beautiful.
Our free roaming cats gather to play around the pool.
Some cats lie to rest, while others sit and watch around.
Hearing my wife's call, they come closer to her.
She comforts them with her gentle massage on their heads and shoulders.
BlackPearl wants to come closer to my wife
But he over stretches his paws and falls into the pool.
He cries out loud in his panic.
He paddles his limbs unceasingly,
But as the result of his movements, he floats and swims.
My wife swims to lead the way.
He swims by her side to the end of the pool
Then he climbs out of the pool by using steps.
On pool deck, he cries with repeated meows.
My wife comforts him and immediately he stops crying.

NHIEN NGUYEN MD
9/20/2016

English Translation of a Vietnamese poem of NHIEN NGUYEN MD:


MÈO CŨNG BIẾT BƠI


Hôm nay, tôi đậy hồ bơi
Đáy hồ tôi hút, thuốc hồ tôi thêm.
Căn sao PH cho đều,
Chlorine vừa đủ. Mùa hè sắp xong.
Vui một lần nữa, tôi bơi
Vợ tôi cũng thế, ngược xuôi trăm lần.
Nước trong, sóng nước nhẹ nhàng
Trời thì không nắng, mây giăng khá nhiều.
Hàng thông chờ gió, đứng yên
Cuối mùa ca hát, tiếng ve thưa dần.
Bên hồ, hồng đỏ Knockout
Tuần này bớt nắng, hoa càng đẹp hơn.
Quanh hồ mèo rủ nhau chơi
Con thì nằm nghỉ, con ngồi nhìn quanh.
Nghe kêu, chúng chạy tới gần
Vợ tôi nhè nhẹ vuốt đầu, thoa vai.
BlackPearl muốn tới thật gần
Nó thò tay với, té vào hồ bơi.
Blackpearl hốt hoảng, la trời
Bốn chân đạp mãi, không ngờ thành bơi.
Vợ tôi bơi trước dẫn đường
Mèo bơi sát nút, tới bờ nhảy lên.
Bên bờ, mèo khóc meo meo
Vợ tôi dỗ nín, mèo vui tức thì.

NHIEN NGUYEN MD

9/20/2016