​Poetry

​The poetry book Lấp Lánh Tình Nguời (Shining Human Love, ISBN 978-604-53-9257-7) collects Vietnamese poems that were composed by patients with leprosy or the care-giving nuns. Selected poems were skillfully replied /echoed by poets worldwide. The books are forwarded to the authors and donated to respective leprosy communities for giving back to donors /visitors at those places. 

All publication-related expenses were donated by FOU friends, and none was extracted from FOU charity fund. We would like to thank all artists, music composers, photographers, poets, sponsors, editors, and friends who helped to collect the articles or contributed to this book while preserving the rare and touching poems from the special poets in Vietnam.

Excerpts from the poetry book Lấp Lánh Tình Người, pages 25 - 27:

Xướng: SHARING -- Andrew V. Nguyễn
The wails sounding from a corner,
The eyes filled with despair,
The minute bowl of rice and water,
All the same, they have to share.
 
The children among the paddy fields,
Having hoped the seeds would grow,
Yet it is but a brown grave,
Now in which the harsh wind blows.
 
With every grain or penny,
Whether times are thick or thin,
These people have stuck together,
Through the tears or happy grins.
 
These people just need a home,
For their hunger, may be some meat,
A place, somewhere in your heart
And exceedingly, something to eat.
 
Please, oh please... open our hearts
to the people who need us most,
Dreams for them are possible,
To charity, let us give a toast.  

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Họa: CHIA SẺ -- Quên
Tiếng ai kêu cứu giữa rừng,
Mắt ai còn đọng với từng hạt sương.
Hạt cơm, giọt nước giữa đường
Chia nhau lấp lánh tình thương, tình người
 
Trẻ thơ gieo hạt thóc tươi
Những mong hy vọng hạt cười, nở hoa
Chẳng may cơn gió ác tà
Thổi tan giấc mộng Kinh Kha kê vàng
 
Hạt cơm vỡ, áo rách toang
Mẹ ôm con, lệ đôi hàng tuôn khô
Bạn ơi... máu chẩy mãi vô
tim cho người bớt môi khô, lạnh lùng
 
Bầu ơi thương lấy bí cùng
Mình tuy cách biển, vẫn chung tình người.
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Xướng: SHARING -- Bầu Bậu 
We have books to read
We have toys to play
Give to those who need
The smile on their faces would brighten their days!
 
Họa: CÙNG CHUNG -- Quên 
Mình trong tủ sách hằng trăm quyển
Núi đồ chơi, sách truyện thiếu chi
Chia cho các bạn thiếu nhi
Chân tay bùn đất, cười khi nhận quà