A poem in Vietnamese by Tô Thùy Yên

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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My return

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By the earnest call of the sea, the forest

My return in time for spring

–

My return – a shadow on the highway

Cared by whom, the verses on my sleeves, fading…

The layers of endeared pain?

Ten years, even discerning are rocks

–

Farewell to my dead and gone ten-years

In unending autumn quiet, hidden from the holy land

Ten years, a grey reflection on the water

Becoming primates

–

My return across the lagoons, the valleys

Furrows upon my brows teased by the Eastern wind

I’m dazed, gazing at life in the ancient land

Sensing time in the shifting sand

–

That’s all. The heaven is silent, the earth dumb

Life quietly nailing shut the blood drained casket

Ten years, witnessed by the world of…

A poem in Vietnamese by Tô Thùy Yên

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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The Duty of a Poet

1.

As lonely as the Creator

As delicate as the spirit

How could I rise above it

The abyss is the draft

Silent white ice

–

Viewing from afar

The ridiculousness of life

I accidentally held on

Bruising the flower, pricked by the thorns

What is there left of youth?

–

I might have to sever

The vein on those helpless arms

All that extra blood

Much could be saved for a biography?

Or aid in deleting it maybe?

–

Never fame nor fortune

Grew wings for adventure

From philosophy learned how to bite one’s tongue

I’m exhausted, completely spent

Life, gosh dear life

2.

The unfortunate gods missed a step

Resentfully upon the earth fell

Saw the revered cathedrals

The drawn naked swords

–

Learned…

A poem in Vietnamese by Tô Thùy Yên

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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The empty cafe

Heading there, perhaps for a date

A date with whom I can’t remember

–

Heading there, a desiccated heart the hollowness of a ball

Grasping exhaustingly at earthly cravings

–

This afternoon was harsh with sunlight…

This afternoon was heavy with rain…

–

The empty cafe, not a soul a being in sight

The lamp is like a thousand years in waiting

–

My fault, it can only be my fault

Unable to recall the right time

–

I’m sorry, to you my apology

You came, and no one was there to meet you

–

Life is so mixed up

There’s no point rushing

Try anyway, hold it together

So it’s worth the trip

–

This afternoon was harsh with sunlight…

This afternoon was heavy with rain…

–

The…

Suas palavras me chegam
Me rodeiam
Me visitam mesmo longe.

Elas me animam
Mesmo quando não te vejo.
Não te cheiro
Não te percebo.

Elas fazem sorrir
Quando quero chorar
Quando quero me isolar.

Elas são simples
Alegres
Confortantes.

Elas me agradam
Me ajuda
Me conforta.
Chega até mim
Como um abraço
Longo e sem fim…

Com love: Coisas da SiL

Your words

Your words reach me
surround me
They visit me even far away.

they cheer me up
Even when I don’t see you.
I don’t smell you
I don’t understand you.

they make you smile
when i want to cry
When I want to isolate myself.

they are simple
happy
comforting.

they please me
It helps me
comfort me.
come to me
like a hug
Long and endless…

With love: Things from SiL