Thousand Awaiting Arms Poem by NHIEN NGUYEN MD

Suddenly, there is a strong wind storm.
When strong gusts blow, they steal away many autumn leaves.
Trees are bent, their branches try to hang on for their bumpy rides.
Yellow leaves are sad because of their forceful farewell.
These leaves beg to the winds: 'why in such a hurry,
Give us another day to share our love with our mother trees'.
Mother trees had nourished their leaves day and night
Wishing that when these leaves die, they will rest by the foot of
their trees.
Usually, fallen leaves drop down near the foot of their trees
When they decay, they return nourishment to their mother trees.
All nourishing ingredients will be absorbed
Then they will burst into young buds next springs.
Usually, after Fall and Winter have passed
New saps flow through big and small branches as cold grounds warm up
Then these branches will be covered with Spring white flower clusters.
These flowers and golden sunlight will spread soft carpets on my driveway.
Now, unfortunately, storm winds shake these branches violently
They pluck off many leaves and toss them far into the air.
The leaves try very hard to cling on with their little arms.
But the winds shake them continuously and they are losing their grips.
As storm winds blow harder and harder in bursts
These yellow leaves tremble, begging thousand times more.
Finally, losing their grips,
these leaves are tossed into the air like tiny boats
Which are sunk by their grief filled to their rims.
Now, as bare trees, they raise their thousand awaiting arms.
All their yellow leaves are gone,
Only one thing left for them to hold
Is the Sadness of Fall and Winter Cold.

11022014
NHIEN NGUYEN MD

Translation of Vietnamese poem of NHIEN NGUYEN MD:

NGÀN CÁNH TAY CHỜ

Bỗng rưng, trời nổi cơn giông
Mỗi khi gió thổi, lá thu rơi đầy.
Cây nghiêng, cành cố van nài
Lá vàng tức tưởi bỏ cành ra đi.
Lá than: 'vội vã làm gì,
Cho tôi ngày nữa chung tình với cây'.
Mẹ cây nuôi dưỡng đêm ngày
Mong khi lá chết, nằm chân gốc gìa,
Thường thì, lá rụng gốc cây
Lá nâu tan rữa, nuôi mùa năm sau
Bao nhiêu chất bổ thấm vào
Chờ ngày Xuân tới, cành đầy búp non.
Hết Thu rồi lại qua Đông
Đất trời ấm lại, nhựa tuôn ngọn ngành.
Mùa Xuân, bông trắng đầy cành
Đường Xuân bông trắng, nắng vàng chen nhau..
Bây giờ giông gió rung cành,
Gió lay rất mạnh, dứt cành lá bay.
Thương cây, lá cố ôm cành
Nhưng mà sức yếu, lỏng dần tay ôm.
Gió to thổi mạnh từng hồi
Lá vàng run rẩy muôn lời van lơn.
Vuột tay, thuyền lá lên không
Khoang thuyền đầy ắp nỗi lòng tha hương.
Hàng cây, ngàn cánh tay chờ
Lá vàng bay mất, ôm buồn Thu Đông.

10282014
NHIEN NGUYEN MD