An Evening of Poetry and Music – Traces of Previous Lives and Love Songs for the Homeland, Part 12 of a Multi-part Series

I wish you a Happy New Year. Prosperity, plenty of health. […] Because there are many people here, not just the Americans; there are people coming from England, France and other countries too. (Yes.) There are a lot of foreigners. […] So, I’ll just summarize the very brief introduction about what’s going on here. Namely, they have made this program to make my poems better looking. And it sounds better. And since then, I began to feel that my poems are better. I didn’t used to feel that my poems had any weight, until all these people “discovered” my talent. […]

Anyhow, in memory of these greatest musicians and artists in Âu Lạc (Vietnam), and in honor of all these greatest musicians and artists and poets, etc., who are present and not present tonight, they presented this program to you for your enjoyment. And I believe their music and poetry do not need language. Is that not so? Some of the program, some of the parts of the program, incorporated music with my poetry. And I was very shy but very honored to have this privilege to be associated with such great names like Phạm Duy, Thu Hồ, Duy Khánh, Lệ Thu, Khánh Ly, etc., etc., as you have seen their names in the program. […] because this is a very rare occasion that you can see all these great names together in one night. Even if you have money and you want to pay to see them, it’s not possible, especially in a foreign country. […]

Anyhow, this program tonight is dedicated to all the artists and the great mother language of Aulacese (Vietnamese), which I’m very proud of. […] And often, I have to speak in foreign languages, because of the large contacts that I have to accept as part of my responsibility with the different distinguished people of the different countries. And English is used most of the time; otherwise, Chinese. […] But in my heart, I think, with your permission and tolerance, I must admit that the Aulacese (Vietnamese) language is the most beautiful language in the whole world. […] I just want to tell you that today with the generosity of all these artistic people and the organizers and the technicians, and all the people who helped to organize tonight, with their generosity, their permission, and their love, we dedicate the interest (proceeds), the outcome of this night, to the most needy artists, their families, or their left-behind families in Âu Lạc (Vietnam). So please help me to thank all these beautiful people.