Khóc Chị

My closest high school friend is Võ Vĩnh Thuận, a professional musician. We were able to regain contact after many years and I last saw him in Los Angeles in 2008 during a trip we made to attend a funeral. It was then that Thuận met Maryse for the first time. It turned out to be the last time as well. Thuận visited this blog after learning of its existence recently and was moved by the poem by Maryse's kid sister Kim. A few days later, he sent me his latest music composition bearing the original title "Khóc Chị" which translates into "Weeping For A Sister." The words of his music are from the poem, almost verbatim. The background photo he selected is from my "Compiègne" blog.

The sheet music he made is accompanied by the special sound track that he commissioned as a gift to Maryse.

For the benefit of those of you who do not know the language, a translation is given here:

Weeping For A Sister
By Elizabeth Kim
Translation by Lân

One after another, the loved ones depart this world
The pain leaves its imprint on the sorrow
Life is fraught with obstacles
The only thing left is this weeping poem
Weeping poem, sorrowful poem, longing and regretful poem
Memory of bygone days reverberates in one's heart
Lost in a world full of suffering
Bobbling with emotion in life's ocean of regrets
Shredded fallen leaves spreading here and there
Denuded trees sadly exposing their crooked branches
The freezing dew and snow windswept along with the clouds
Days and months swiftly flow into time past.

Khóc Chị

Music: Võ Vĩnh Thuận
Vocalist: Thái Hòa
Arrangement: Kiên Thanh

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