Thân tặng thầy dòng Chiến
Hôm nay thăm Chiến trên đồi
Vui đời tu hạnh ở Oceanside.
Bây giờ cuối tháng mười hai
Nam Cali vẫn chờ mưa bao ngày.
Dòng tu ở đỉnh đồi cao
Từ đây nhìn xuống xa xa dặm dài.
Trời xanh không áng mây bay
Bao ngày Chiến đã ngồi đây ngẫm đời:
"Vinh danh, phú quý trên đời
Chết đi, ai cũng chỉ còn tay không! "*
Mỗi ngày kinh lễ mấy giờ
Sáng vừa mở mắt, dâng lời cầu xin.
Lâu rồi, lòng đã bình yên
Dâng ngày còn lại tôn vinh Chúa trời.
Bao nhiêu thánh nhạc viết rồi
Lại thêm đàn hát quên đời nhiêu khê.
Mừng thay, Chiến đã yên bề
Lòng tu đã thoát ê chề thế gian.
NHIEN NGUYEN MD
12/28/2017
* paraphrased words of monk Chiến
Below is translation of above poem by NHIEN NGUYEN MD:
VISITING OUR MONK FRIEND AT PRINCE OF PEACE ABBEY
Dedicated to our friend, monk Chien
Today, we visit our friend on top of a hill
Where he lives his religious life in an Abbey in Oceanside.
Now, it's the end of December
For many days, South California has been waiting for rain.
This Abbey is sitting on top of a high hill
From here, one has a clear bird's eye view of many miles.
The sky is blue without any puff of clouds
Sitting on this hill many days, our friend has been meditating about life:
"A man accumulated fame and richness all his life
But when he dies, he carries only empty hands with him", he said.
He attends mass and prays at least few hours a day
As soon as he wakes up, he starts his day with praying.
For a long time, he has achieved the peace for his mind
And he dedicated the rest of his life to glorify God.
He has composed many religious songs
He also sings and plays musical instruments to glorify God.
Congratulation to you, our friend, for achieving your inner peace
You have transcended beyond worries of material life.
NGUYEN MD
12/28/2017
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem