breaking rocks on côn sơn by phan chu trinh (we promise one another/ washington d.c. 1971)

breaking rocks on côn sơn, a poem by phan chu trinh 
(we promise one another / washington d.c. 1971)


                               breaking rocks on côn sơn
                                                          by phan chu trinh

                                                             p. 97   WE PROMISE ONE ANOTHER


                      Phan chu Trinh was a key figure in Vietnamese anti-colonial struggles at the turn
                      of the century.  We attempted to liberate from the feudalism of the Mandarin system
                      and prepare the way for a new nationalism.  Heavily influenced by European En-
                      lightenment thinking, be argued against a violent confrontation with France and was
                      hopeful that an acceptable agreement could be worked out with France without blood-
                      shet.  Nevertheless, he waa accused of inciting rebellion and sent to the prison island
                      of Côn sơn in 1908, where he remained until 1911.  Although due to his notority he 
                      received some privileges while at Côn sơn, he had to break rocks for building roads
                      with all the prisoners.  He also supposedly ruffled French authorities by refusing to                                                                        talk to the French prison director unless he was invited to sit down. * 
                       ---
                             *    Information on Phan chu Trinh was taken from Vietnamese Anti-Colonialism by 
                                  David  G. Marr, Univeristy of California Press, Berkeley, Calif., 1971. 
                                          (DON LUCE' s note)


                       As a man standing upright on Côn sơn,
           I can bring moutains crashing down in pieces.
           With my hammer I shatter heap after heap,
           All my strength producing hundreds more stones,
           Day in, day out I make light of my exhausted body,
           In rain or shines my heart never fails.
           In temporary setback, those who mend the sky
           Do not let minor things get them down!

                              PHAN CHU TRINH

                                   ----
                         ( Published by The Indochina Moblie Education Project  Washington  D.C.)
                         ( Copryright (C) : 1971 /  Don Luce -- John C. Schafer -- Jacquelyn Chagnon.)