A life so early beset by struggles
Was yours when your family fled from Hanoi
And in South Vietnam sought refuge and freedom—
It’s sad what conflicting ideals can destroy.
The South was only a tentative haven
While you attended French schools through the years.
The North-versus-South conflict exploded;
Your country was hurled into suffering and tears.
But luckily you escaped with your children,
Again seeking refuge, this time in the West:
In Europe, Canada, and then California—
A safe life for your children, your constant quest.
 
Your flower boat has gently borne you
To the Other Shore—your journey’s end.
You will always be in my heart.
Tạm biệt, lovely Liên; au revoir, my dear friend.
 
We met in the 80s and as fate would have it
We became friends. I’ll never forget
How we thoughtfully guided our students—
Our work together: the perfect duet.
I could sit and listen forever
As you shared interesting tales from your past.
Your knowledge was thorough, your stories intriguing,
Your manner so charming, your wisdom so vast.
I miss our dinners and social occasions.
In thinking about them I have to smile:
We’d talk for hours over large bowls of phở,
And I’d get a word in just once in a while.
 
Your flower boat has gently borne you
To the Other Shore—your journey’s end.
You will always be in my heart.
Tạm biệt, lovely Liên; au revoir, my dear friend.
 
If anyone needed a helping hand,
You would be there, offering support.
Then, not needing to earn recognition,
You’d turn down all praise; you’d sell yourself short.
How I envied your mastery of languages—
English, French, Vietnamese!
Your mellifluous voice—I can still hear it—
Tender, angelic, as soft as a breeze.
Our phone conversations—whenever they happened—
Were always an adventure. Oh, yes, but I swear
That I could never be in a hurry—
I needed at least a whole hour to spare.
 
Your flower boat has gently borne you
To the Other Shore—your journey’s end.
You will always be in my heart.
Tạm biệt, lovely Liên; au revoir, my dear friend.
 
Teacher, friend, sister, cousin—
I saw you in so many ways—
Your kindness and generosity inspired me,
Broadened my world, brightened my days.
You lived for your family—who always came first—
And never resentful, you never complained.
Imagine how much you influenced your children
With your giant heart! Just think what they’ve gained!
How much you accomplished in your precious life!
How much you managed to do on your own!
You, with that tiny, delicate frame,
Were one of the mightiest people I’ve known.
 
Your flower boat has gently borne you
To the Other Shore—your journey’s end.
You will always be in my heart.
Tạm biệt, lovely Liên; au revoir, my dear friend.

- by Bob B

As you start your new adventure
With hope, excitement and longing
I wonder about that greener pasture
And the dreams it might be growing

And as I muse, reflect and ponder
I settle with but one impression …
Whatever dreams are there and yonder
Are worthy of pursuit and possession

Please know of my sincere affection
For all the kindness shown
You steered me in a new direction …
A mentor, none better have I known

Your support so kindly imparted
Will be both missed and treasured
Lovely, generous and kind-hearted
A friend by whom friends are measured

I wish for you happiness and health
Amazing travels, both near and far
A future filled with such joyous wealth
But for now, my friend … Au revoir

Au revoir, I know you'll cry
and so will I, my Heart.
Our sweet love we'll set aside,
we both know we must part.
You don't have to say.
I know that you love me.
Never will we doubt what we feel today.

Sad songs will we sing alone,
while longing for a touch.
I know that you feel the same,
we love us oh so much!
Pacing in my room;
never getting somewhere;
only getting close to the gathering gloom.

Carry me, oh carry me
Through churchyards dark and drear.
Teach your love songs to the wind
and maybe I will hear.
Lover I have lain
Where the world won't touch me
And I'll never tell you, au revoir again

Au revoir Vince
We had our good times
Together
Also you were a  
Person who had a gentle soul
Vince you never done
Anything bad for any body
You had lots of respect
For you friends
Also it was you father
That had made you
With his holy hands
And placed here on earth to
Live
Also you were one of my
Children
I must say that you were
The oldest children of mine
I had introduced you
To my youngest children
And you all got along just fine
My youngest children are now
Teenagers
Yes they have grown very fast
I must tell you
Au revoir Vince
Somebody had ended you life
Here on earth
It was not my wish for me
To see you go
It made me very sad Vince
I find it very hard to live
My life without you
Vince
Now it is time to say
To you au revoir
I must say that
I hate to say good bye
To you but this time
I had no choice but
To say au revoir Vince
Vince somebody took you
Life away that ended
Very badly
Vince I am very sad every day
That I lost you friend
You have no idea
How much I cry for you
Vince I know that you
Are now in heaven resting in
A better place then me
Maybe one day we will
Be reunited in heaven again
And I know that there is a spot
In heaven for me
But now Vince I still living my life
That I have to live
To the fullest here on earth

an au revoir here penned,
man on a cliff doing a spring, fall over cleaning

a few rusty drafts still needy for completely
but you know times up when tide rushing out
and on your leg is a big red rash that wasn’t there
when you waded in a few minutes earlier

tastes changes, like seasonal entrees on a restaurant menu,
seasons come and go, reappearing, but last years dish,
out of style, except for the occasional recalling

the body and the work must together concert,
poetry like a lifetime of lovers, you leave them behind
for loving them too well, using up the verses left inside,
then comes the time when love dries up and the words concomitant

the nighttime scraps will still be kept in that sewing box,
that storage space rented on a 99 year lease
but now for my eyes lonely only, this nub is stubbed,
this last one, at last, succinct

au revoir mes amis

(I)
the white light calls me from beyond
the thunder screams across the sky
                                                           (it's not raining out)
I'm right behind you hey look listen listen to me

I'm yearning for something more
and echo a dream a life a team
a team I already own whether they know it or not
(I'm tired of being viewed not as significant I am the one the only one bow down and respect me)

No- -
Taking this too slow
Bird flies through my window- -
Stop death stop

winding staircase stops suddenly
without a sound without a voice
               all of this is inside my head
                                                            ­                                     I'm here, I'm here
I do think I'm not getting the respect I deserve
loathing every practice there is
oh I work, I work for this writing words that no one really knows about
very very very much I wish in the general population this could work, this could work my love
every every every tie every rhyme

it's all for you
It's all for You

(II)
back broken tied twisted stuff my face(with your embrace)
comma me comma you comma her comma him
back it off the spring is cool and frightens my body
as the shadow swims I look in your eye

forever fleeting against the cold wind
the rain has stopped(it never began)
no wall...no wall....
there's no wall
everything I could do
get up sing and dance
my blood boils at a temperature unfathomable

burning turning yearning
burning
I am Fire
No- -
I am light
Stop death stop

and when fear has faded and the damage is done
I sink and drink and think of You
beauty unmatched (touch me)
I love your warmth forever -hold me
-hold me for I am lonely

(III)
breath to your light to your fire to your beauty to your match to your explosion of light I am yes you are Yes I am two who are you everything beauty you look like a bird taking flight for the first time what a beautiful sight it is to take flight into the night sky words upon words upon words to the lighthouse to the beach have a picnic have a picnic with everything you can imagine this is what I work for some days some days I forget when you are gone I miss you more than anything i could imagine hold me hold me you know i am lonely are you lonely too because in that case we can live together in pitch
perfect
harmony
I am Harmony.
Kiss me.
I am Descended upon upstairs.

(IV)
connect me to the stars
I fall
apart
looking&searchingbeau;
ty
Yes
for what then?
love
dove
resemble Christ
tell me Live
I sing of Gold
old and tall
Remember me
burning and yearning and turning
Stop Death Stop
you no longer control me
Tolstoy
ohhhhhhh
yes
looking for....
what
look at me
my body’s turning
over a fire
I am fire
I am burning sorrow
No
not
ever
finished
this is what it will be then this is how I will Become I will become You are becoming Yes I am Becoming
wine and peace
Tolstoy
Body turning good bye, my love (come back to me)

(V)
Eon-

(VI)
My body’s turning
(look at me)
My body’s yearning
(look at me)
I am burning
Body turning (Alley oop)
I love You
Fire to
Fire You
                                                             ­                                                    I reconstruct myself on the other side
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                                 This Time
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                                 
                                                                ­                                                         I come together on the other side
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                                          I win
                                                             ­                                                                 ­                           The other side
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                             the other side
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                            body burning
                                                         ­                                                                 ­                                body turning  
                                                       ­                                                                 ­                               body yearning
                                                        ­                                                                 ­                                      hero gone
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                        everyone’s gone
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                                            you
                                                             ­                                                                 ­                        you’re still here
                                                            ­                                                                 ­                          reconstruction
ontheotherside
body turning Au Revoir, Mon Amour (come back to Me)

The tears as you leave are a blessing
the feeling of sadness a gift
For many don't have ones to love them
or pleasant sweet sorrow so swift

When the life was bitter
She was sitting beside the grim reaper
When her end was near
There was nothing to fear
This could be her last lunar year
The day she might disappear
Would anyone even care
Pale face,cold feet,red dress like she was a chandelier
"I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it",said Shakespeare
A lil bit of kindness
A lil bit of apathy
A lil bit of patience
A lil bit of love
Could make her feel a lil less lonelier
A lil bit of all
A lil bit of all
But the pain of never healing wounds she could not bear
But one could feel all those emotions because one was alive
So to get rid of her fears
She was ready to disappear
As she said,"Au revoir"

My time with you has come to an end,
It's time to say goodbye my beautiful friend.
You were my confidant, my ear,
A shoulder for my tears,
My insanity, my sane,
My sun when there was rain,
My laughter, my fears,
You held through the years
And though this battle fought, is lost
My memories of you are forever embossed
For I know we will never truly be apart
When I need you here, I'll just place my hand on my heart
I'll look to the sky and see you there
Search my memories, that with you I share
And Although I wish this day had not come
I know now you're at peace, your pain now numbed


Au revoir my beautiful friend, Allison.
I'll love you now and always