The Vietnamese

The Vietnamese

Across this magnificent universe

from the four corners of this wonderful earth

   emerged a people, simple but resolute,

      upholding their own uniqueness

They have never been the strongest

and certainly they are not the grandest

   but truly they believe

      good deeds shall prevail over evil

They have never been the brightest

and certainly they are not the proudest

   but truly they believe

      in righteousness and justice

They rose up against the mightiest

persistently and decisively they resisted

   and kept out from their homeland

      slave chains of adversaries

In three great wars they crushed Genghis Khan’s army

Countless times they thwarted the northern fleets

   From Asian invaders to European colonialists

   All intruders were vanquished in time

Across this magnificent universe

from the four corners of this wonderful earth

   emerged a people called the Vietnamese,

   the Exceptional People of the South

Their land is not among the best fertile

often dried and sometimes flooded

   but they nurture with warm heart and mind 

      to cultivate fine yields of life

They have never been the wealthiest

but they’re among the most generous 

    endowed with brave souls and vibrant spirit

    channelling love to overcome sufferings

Defying history’s vicious politics

Millions conquered the Pacific’s challenge

   with nothing but kindness and love

   of the Exceptional People of the South

Their journey has never ended

but evolved and kept evolving

   to illustrate the compassion in love,

   in tragedy and triumph throughout life

Across this magnificent universe

from the four corners of this wonderful earth

   emerged a people with kindness and love,

   the Exceptional People of the South.

Lloyd Duong

In midair crossing the Pacific

September 27, 2017

   * Việt Nam (Việt:  Exceptional  . Nam: South)