An Evening of Poetry and Music – Traces of Previous Lives and Love Songs for the Homeland, Part 8 of a Multi-part Series

Ladies and gentlemen, silent love in poetry and literature always creates sympathy, evoking emotions and agreement in the heart of all readers. I especially want to emphasize one thing here, and that is, in the poetry of the poet Supreme Master Ching Hai, "Silent Love" is a very intense and fiery love. "God exiled a tiny swallow to the riverbank, One stormy night, its delicate wings were broken! Alas, it was intoxicated by a love potion, And forgot the way back to Heaven! Passion burns within, Glances vibrating, Tears shedding for an amour, in silence On a rainy pathway, leaves are scattering! So near yet so far, silence between us So near yet so far, melancholy in our hearts So near yet so far, tears softly flowing So near yet so far, melancholy in our hearts God commanded a white flower to wither After one stormy night, it was still deep in slumber! Tears flowing from the heavens, in silence On a faraway pathway, leaves are scattering!"

Ladies and gentlemen, I once enjoyed watching the poet Supreme Master Ching Hai reciting poems on TV. I liked it so much when She said, not verbatim: When a couple is in love, they build a paradise for each other, and when they are out of love, that same paradise becomes hell. All of you are invited to listen to the song “The Man Who Would Recreate Eden.” Poem by Supreme Master Ching Hai, music by Phượng Vũ, and vocals by Thái Hiền. "My love, do you still remember your words? O ruby lips like the blood passing through my heart O eyes so blue like azure clouds on the horizon O tresses like priceless silk, so fine and golden! You promised me passage from winter to summer Transforming the cycle of suffering to paradise on Earth Showing me new passion and enjoyment With wondrous hands, you would recreate Heaven! But then you took back all the magic, Leaving me depleted and lovelorn Eyes wide open, bereft of tears And my barren heart, only a faint murmur! But then you took back our lost paradise Leaving me depleted and lovelorn, Long are the nights in agony And my woeful heart, sighing till eternity. Please take back, too, your words – empty of all meaning – It’s too late now; the boat has sailed from the pier of old. Why kneel in repentance, the one who would recreate Eden? Why cling to the fleeting love that we can’t mend?"