Tình Già / Old-time Love

Twenty-four years ago,

one night with both wind and rain,

under a dim light, in a small room,

two youthful heads leaned together and sighed:

"Oh, the two of us, our love is deep,

but getting married is not possible. 

To the point that love preceded marriage,

perhaps, it would be better to part ways early!"

"How could you say that!

How could we bear to part!

Let love lasts as long as it will,

beyond that, it's up to the heavens to decide!

We are lovers and not a married couple

to discuss faithfulness to  each other. "

Twenty-four years later,

by chance, they meet again in a foreign land:

Both heads have turned gray. If they didn't know each other well,

could they recognize each other?

They reminisce about the past and that's it. They exchange glances and part ways,

with lingering looks in their eyes

by Phan Khôi

English translation by Vuong Thanh, 12.2023