Daily English Discussion--Aug. 7, 09--Poem "Regrets"

Hi everyone,

Hey, you guys, the talented Daklak Gang, the poets, and the poetry lovers out there, could you do me a personal favor.

Below is a poem entitled "Regrets", which I wrote in English in 2000 and have edited it three times since.

Sometimes I wanted to translate it into Vietnamese, but every time I tried to start, I backed out. For some reason, I am not too excited about translating my own stuff, although I am more ready with other people's writings.

So could you kindly translate this poem and make it into a beautiful Vietnamese piece for me to keep.

Thanks a million :-)

Hoanh

.

Regrets


I regret the days and months we were together

When the sun was bright
the tamarind trees green
and the bomb explosions the city’s routine

When all I wanted was to hold you tight
and place a slight kiss on your lips

When the world was so huge
that life was closer to death than Saigon to Hanoi
or you to me

The fear of the unknown
beyond the first kiss
was larger than my valor
(though I wasn’t at all bothered
by the nightly exploding rockets)

Those days
gray monsoons
red flares
quiet eyes
wet hair

Love rolling in thunders in the heart

And I just wanted to kiss you slightly on the lips

Why didn’t I?

TDH