"Songbirds Still Sing" was previously submitted to literary agents and small presses. It is now available here for readers to enjoy.
AcknowledgmentsFifteen of these poems first appeared on the author's website, tuantran.org, in June 2001. The rest were written since May 2026.
Songbirds Still Sing
1. Arrival
1
I saw
an earthworm
crawling
next to my feet
carefully
I picked it up
and placed it
in a flowerpot
so I wouldn't step on it
then I saw
another
I placed it
in the same flowerpot
so the other
won't be lonely
an earthworm
crawling
next to my feet
carefully
I picked it up
and placed it
in a flowerpot
so I wouldn't step on it
then I saw
another
I placed it
in the same flowerpot
so the other
won't be lonely
2
Spiderweb
collecting morning dew
a graveyard of mosquitoes
collecting morning dew
a graveyard of mosquitoes
3
Pink lotus
in full bloom
this muddy pond
in full bloom
this muddy pond
4
Dragonfly
in a pond of lotus flowers
be still
in a pond of lotus flowers
be still
5
A grassy field
this wet spring evening
the sound of a frog
this wet spring evening
the sound of a frog
6
The koi
moving
in silent pond
moving
in silent pond
7
A salmon
returning
the stream awaits
returning
the stream awaits
8
A brook
trickling down
a silent pond
trickling down
a silent pond
9
Cooper's hawk
waiting
at the bird feeder
waiting
at the bird feeder
10
The bird feeder
black sunflower seeds
chirping red-headed finches
black sunflower seeds
chirping red-headed finches
2. Seeking
11
Master
seeking for you
halfway around the world
Guru
where are you
but in my heart
seeking for you
halfway around the world
Guru
where are you
but in my heart
12
Ego
my own ego
big as a mountain
chip at it
a little
each day
my own ego
big as a mountain
chip at it
a little
each day
13
Every caterpillar
metamorphoses
in its own time
metamorphoses
in its own time
14
White orchid
on the altar
the Buddha smiles
on the altar
the Buddha smiles
15
Temple bell
the forest
listens
the forest
listens
16
Temple bell
fading
silence remains
fading
silence remains
17
Temple bell ringing
I think
of my friend
I think
of my friend
18
White butterfly
alights
upon pink orchid
alights
upon pink orchid
19
A bee
buzzing
the peony flower
buzzing
the peony flower
20
Hummingbird
darting
a field of honeysuckles
darting
a field of honeysuckles
3. Disruption
21
Bamboo branches swaying in the gentle breeze
water buffaloes reflecting in the moonlight
bombs falling like raindrops
water buffaloes reflecting in the moonlight
bombs falling like raindrops
22
Dark clouds
approaching
songbirds still sing
approaching
songbirds still sing
23
In my darkest hour
I cried out for you
I love you, mom
I cried out for you
I love you, mom
24
Ten years
seems as yesterday
I have not let go
seems as yesterday
I have not let go
25
Forget-me-not
on
an empty park bench
on
an empty park bench
26
How strange
dragonflies
spitting fire
dragonflies
spitting fire
27
One boat
alone
this vast ocean
alone
this vast ocean
28
Like a sailboat
in a vast blue sea
without a compass
or a star
to point the way
then you appear
bright as the northern star
radiant and lovely
with that far-away look
in your eyes
and lips so moist
as the morning dew
and suddenly
I am no longer lost
as I steer
by the light
of the northern star
in a vast blue sea
without a compass
or a star
to point the way
then you appear
bright as the northern star
radiant and lovely
with that far-away look
in your eyes
and lips so moist
as the morning dew
and suddenly
I am no longer lost
as I steer
by the light
of the northern star
4. The Road Home
29
Peony flower
in spring
winter is over
in spring
winter is over
30
White peony
from the garden
on the kitchen table
from the garden
on the kitchen table
31
White peony
bending
at the stem
bending
at the stem
32
Yellow butterfly
floating
above purple lavender
floating
above purple lavender
33
Cherry blossom
petal
falling
petal
falling
34
Cricket chirping
in
moonlit night
in
moonlit night
35
Desert moon
shone brightly
a lone wanderer
shone brightly
a lone wanderer
36
Footsteps
in
falling snow
in
falling snow
37
Autumn leaves
on
a winding path
on
a winding path
38
Autumn
leaves
falling
leaves
falling
39
Autumn breeze
falling leaves
why think of summer
falling leaves
why think of summer
40
Autumn fog
covering
the road home
covering
the road home