A poem in Vietnamese by Lê Vĩnh Tài

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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like the waves in your room, one moonlit night. in waves, rising…

1.

infatuation is within the eyes of the beholder

knowing tenderness is within the touch of a hand

but loving you

they also have the privilege of having you in their arms as you sulk

.

the erratic breath on heaving breast

lips grazing wet lips

but loving you

they also have the privilege of the extra tears

2.

your voice

like a babbling stream

.

a quiet and far away forest

far away and quiet

.

the meaning of you bloom

by your babbling stream

beneath your breasts rising is a temple

pulsating. they breathe. and they dream

.

your kiss is as deep

as the surrendering sunset

not like the surrender of a long sigh

but as you sleep settled on the canopy…