David Lan Pham

You and I
Two Horizons, One Hope

To Frédéric François Chopin (1810- 1849) born Frederyk Franciszek,
and all people sharing his suffering and state of mind, those of the expatriates.
David Lan Pham, F.A.B.I.

You and I, we are of different generations.
You were from the West; I am from the East.
Since my childhood I have known your name.
I have remembered you through La Tristesse.

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You were Polish.
I am Vietnamese.
You passed away.
I am still in debt on Earth.

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There is no common ground between you and me.
You were a genial musician.
I am an unknown teacher.
La Tristesse reminded you of your dear Poland
As for me, I find my dear country through the veil of tears rain

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You came to Paris as a proletarian,
Holding a bag of Polish soil,
Souvenir reminding the returnless traveller of his nostalgic Homeland.
I came to America as a stateless man
In the frosty Winter freezing my heart and liver.
Looking at the Oriental horizon,
I felt definitely inaccessible to my Homeland and family

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Honorable Chopin!
You and I, we have the common denominator, though:
The expatriates’ sufferings.
You composed La Tristesse.
My tears turn versatile.
We are from two different horizons
But we both have the same hope:
Our dear Homelands!
Adieu Chopin!