For this week, the poem I chose is "Nam Quốc Sơn Hà" by Lý Thường Kiệt. It is a well-known Vietnamese poem written in the 10th century. It was meant to be a pre-battle motivation. The poet is a general who served for 3 dynasties during the Ly Dynasty in Vietnam. He helped fend off the Chinese Invaders from the North. It was said that he would recite this poem to his troops before their battles.
"Sông núi nước Nam, vua Nam ở
Cớ sao lũ giặc sang xâm phạm,
Chúng bây sẽ bị đánh tơi bời!"
Translation:
The mountains and rivers that carved the southern empire, dwelled by the Southern Emperor.
Its sovereignty is of nature's will and is allotted in script from the heaven.
What gives these invaders the right to trespass it,
They shall, in doing that, see themselves be defeated and shamed!
I remember learning about this poem when I was in gradeschool in Vietnam. The teachers had us memorize this poem by heart. At that time I didn't its importance, but not looking back, it's a way for me to appreciate my culture's history and heroism.
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