To Toàn-Linh

Wishing for Gia-Bảo, Vân-Anh

To soon reap the fruits of study through the months and years

Praying that Linh stays healthy standing and lying

Helping the two grandchildren be more diligent morning and evening

Worth the effort, worth the money spent

Worth Toàn's heart bearing so many worries

When at last reaching shore, mooring the boat

Only then is the moment of no more worry, fulfillment

Wishing for blessings, meeting good fortune

Praying wishes be fulfilled, deserving to enjoy the reward

Praying to Heaven, to the Việt-Hồng Nation

Bless Toàn with smooth fortune in every way

Help their married life

Linh-Toàn, always joyful from the start!

Uncle has long had no news from home

Surely you, niece, know all the family news

Uncle hopes for general news

Praying you tell of every path so uncle knows

Wishing the Phùng-Trịnh families day by day

All joyful, all healthy, eager to help the family

All relatives near and far

Having a charitable heart, truly precious!

At year's start, wishing all things good,

Peaceful mind, healthy body, family at ease and joyful.

Children and grandchildren gathered together,

Reminding each other of old times, relatives near and far.

The days of hardship have passed,

Still the teachings remain unfaded, unforgotten.

Family unity is the foundation,

Helping each other study, living steadfastly together.

The Phùng family roots are still here,

Keeping the bonds firm, the ancestors content.

(mourning Mrs. Giao Chi)

In-law, oh alas in-law

Why did you bear to leave the house you built

The effort you contributed was truly great

Wife and children have enjoyed the trees you planted

The in-law mourns with grief, gazing

From now the two paths of the red dust are watered no more

You leave, still remembering the laughter

You return, still remembering to embrace the in-law

(mourning Mrs. Giao Chi)

Just now the child saw your shadow

Now your shadow is seen no more!

Why did you hurry to leave this place

Why did you bear to abandon orphaned children and gentle wife

Wishing you become a Buddha, become an Immortal

Hoping you are at peace, joyful in the far journey

Henceforth through rain and sun and haze

Praying you bless and aid the neighbors of the district

How to make the economy abundant

How to make life as one wishes

Security and prosperity built up

Roads flow freely here and there

No one thinks of separation

Young and old, big and small, united together

Seeing anyone err, then dissuade them

Seeing anyone do good, then follow along

Morning and night no bickering seen

All day only mouths cheering with joy

That is the benefit enjoyed together

That is progress advancing together, how joyful

Who can bring this about?

Is it not old Lời who has helped the village?

Hoping forever it stays prosperous

Praying that day by day Bát Tràng is built up

Congratulating the child at forty-nine years of age

Past the time of hardship, past the naive days

With single heart guarding the homeland

Sheltering the devoted wife, sheltering the little children

Helping father, helping mother to build up

Helping the whole clan too, in times of need

Hoping the era lasts long

Blessings, peace, fortune and longevity abundant through the years

Today, forty-six years of age

Welcoming father, welcoming mother, out to the home sea

Together vacationing endlessly

A thousand prayers of filial devotion vast as the ocean

Whenever the sun and moon turn direction

Parting and separation, love as the colored sea

Asking the moon: "Where is father?"

Smiling: "Father is in the mind, in the heart"

Asking further: "wanting to seek, wanting to find,

"Both father and mother, ask the bird to seek them"

The bird says: "mother is on the back

Both father and mother help every moment"

Faintly hearing someone's voice here:

"father and mother departed, this love is still recorded"