Ecce Homo---Modern Version

ECCE HOMO-MODERN VERSION

"Preamble and Introduction"

I would maintain and argue that Man is the only animal on this planet which cares about the meaning of life. Other organisms would just struggle to eat, sleep, mate, get sick or eaten, and then die. They make no impact and leave no legacy; they simply and inexorably follow biological imperatives. I would also maintain and argue that most humans live just like that, yet because consciousness of the existence of higher values (truth, beauty, ethics, altruism, self-actualization) is inherent in being human, these human animals are self-conflicted. They are too animalistic to attain higher values, and yet are not impervious to them. In order to achieve a semblance of psychic balance so they would not experience undue anxiety and persistent unhappiness, they resort to playing a game of delusions and self-delusions: they believe in a Personal God Who would "save" them and guarantee them a place in "Heaven" or at least a reincarnation; they think they are "good", "normal", "reasonably intelligent', and full of "common sense", despite all the facts and evidence to the contrary. In other words, they live a life of a lie. So when they encounter a human being like me, they are in for a shock. Let me tell you something that is dear and near to my heart: if I had power, I would not hesitate to exterminate all of these human animals for I view them a disgrace to the human race and an impediment to human progress. 

If anybody who deserved to claim a possession of common sense, that would be Confucius. If the human animals live a life as recommended by Confucius, they would be okay. At the very least, they must adopt a bedrock principle: be as you are, don't pretend who you are not. They must know their true place in life. They must know where they are, where they stand in relation to others.

I've been accused of being "crazy" or  "mentally sick", but I know I am just "different" and "uncompromising". I also know I am not "gifted" and "clever" like the rare humans for whom I have a lot of respect, but I am convinced that the difference between those geniuses and me lies in the degrees, not in kind. The more I know about music, math, languages, and poetry, the more I am convinced of my place in the hierarchy of human brain power. 

Nói lớn lên, đừng thì thầm bẽn lẽn
Nói yêu anh khi đêm vẫn còn đen
Trăng còn sáng nên không cần mị mộng
Nói yêu anh để vơi nhớ chờ trông

Khi yêu nhau hai ta cùng sáng tạo
Để đời không chỉ là giấc chiêm bao
Ta sống nhau trong cuộc đời trong sáng
Và giã từ một thuở kiếp đi hoang

Wissai
August 23, 2014

TÂM THỨC NẮNG

em chợt đến trời nghiêng lòng đất ngả
gió bỗng ngưng khi hơi thở em xa
hồn siêu thực chỉ là tâm thức nắng
gọi tên em để lưu luyến ngàn năm

con đường dài hoàng hôn chưa kịp tối
những đêm sâu đợi sáng cũng chưa vơi
mùa hoa tới mà ngọn ngành trơ trụi
và dòng sông còn cách quãng ngậm ngùi

tiềm thức vực hiền nhân bên đắm đuối
cả đam mê vạt cỏ úa rừng xuôi
ngọn đồi vắng chỉ dấu chân muông dại
tìm nhau thân giữa tuyết trắng hoàng mai

em ở lại để ta về đất hẹn 
nối tình thương vào mảnh biếc hom hem
không đau nữa và không hề tiếc nghẹn
khi lòng ta đã tràn ngập hồn em

Lưu Nguyễn Đạt

SOUL OF SUNSHINE 

When you suddenly appeared, heaven and earth shook
Winds ceased blowing when your breathing faded away
Surrealism is another game for this sunshine of mine
Calling for your name in thousands of years

Sunset has not yet arrived in this long lonely road
Unrelieved sleepless nights that await the sun 
Flowering season is here, but all flora barren 
The separating river still have sighs of tears 

I'm sinking in the abyss of my subconscious 
Drowning in the jungle of withered weeds that flow
The barren hills still bear traces of my footsteps
I'm now looking for you in the vast expanse of white snow

You stayed behind while I'm heading to the promised land 
Linking my love with a body that is worn and gaunt
I'm no longer in pain and choked up in regrets
When my heart still overflows with memories of your soul 

Loose and quickie translation
August 22, 2014
Wissai

TẠO 
SÁNG

nhạc day dứt cho tình yêu tạo sáng
màu sắc khơi trên vạt nắng vừa tan 
tiếng nói khác mà sao như quen thuộc 
hoa héo thơm tận ngây ngất ngàn hoang

từ vô hạn nẩy mầm bao đọt sống 
ngửa tay nâng cả mộng ước hư không 
nhặt sỏi đá giữa biển khô muối mặn
xé mây khuya nhóm lửa đốt mênh mông

ta khao khát quay về nguồn sáng tạo 
đường thật xa chỉ hồi nhớ vọng dao
em đâu đó mùa đông nay tới muộn
lạnh dòng sông và lạnh cả hồn sao

Lưu Nguyễn Đạt

ÉTINCELLE 
DE VIE

ta musique s’illumine d’amour 
à l’instant où le soleil disparaît
telle une image autre et pourtant familière
une fleur agonise dans son propre parfum

de l’infini sans fond une étincelle de vie 
soulève le rêve du néant entier
et le grain de sable dans l’océan desséché
perce le ciel pour allumer l’espace immense

mon retour passionné à la source d’inspiration
prendra le long parcours de la mémoire à peine vivace
tu arrives tard mon amour dans le coeur de l’hiver
glaçant la rivière nocturne et l’étoile éphémère

Luu Nguyen Dat

CREATIVITY OR LIGHT OF LIFE 

Music lingers on so love can shine
Colors explode on the disappearing light
Different voice but sounds familiar
Flowers fading yet fragrance stays forever in the wild

From infinity born countless waves of life
Sustaining dreams and dreams of nothing
Giving rise to pebbles in drying salty seas
Tearing apart night clouds to light up the sky

I'm coming back to the passion of creation
Along the endless road of recollections
Winter comes late to where you arrive
The river is cold and so is the soul of stars

Quickie Translation by 
Wissai
August 23, 2014

Now, my friends, especially the Vietnamese-Americans ones, ask yourself a question and answer it truthfully: After wading through my words thus far, can you write and or translate as I do? 

Now, let me "share" with you (more of this will come later in greater detail) my conception of certain "realities" and "notions" and "facts":

1. There is no Personal God. Those who believe so are stupid or emotionally and intellectually childish.
2. Polygamy is good and healthy for the genetic pool.
3. Current criminalization of prostitution and marijuana while booze and nicotine are freely available to adults are stupid. Sex cannot be bad, even excessive sex. Actually, there is no such thing as excessive sex. Unlike food, booze, nicotine, and drugs, you cannot overdose on sex, especially if you are a male.
4. Love is a game, like all human activities.
5. Power is everywhere, and not just in politics. It's in love, sex, religion, and all human relationships. To live is to deal with power. 
6. Hate solves very little, if any. In fact, it adds to the problem. Love is stronger than Hate, but harder to cultivate. 
7. Arrogance is annoying, but it's more "beautiful" than false and phony modesty. "All" thinkers and artists are arrogant, some are just more overt than others. You can always learn from others, but you are allowed to have feelings of arrogance. These feelings spur you on, keep you hard at work, otherwise you will fall behind and become a joke. Don't be shackled by conventions, by social sanctions. Be free. Yes, you can have feelings of lust, too. Just, be careful and don't hurt your loved ones and your wallet in the process. Be free, but be responsible at the same time. Life is a balancing act.