A poem in Vietnamese by Lê Vĩnh Tài

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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TEN POEMS

1.

poetry begs the pardon

of all the women poetry once claimed as divine

as fire

and smoke

.

poetry apologised

not because you’re unrefined

.

but far beyond the poem, you’re beautiful

2.

a woman coloured in her youth

rushed down the street

asked herself whether she’ll find

a man also in the youthful hues

of her twenties…

3.

behind her

poetry carried a loaf of bread and a bottled water

ready and prepared

to follow

.

heard the rustling wind

at the birth of poetry’s parents

.

meat and bone once again

turned into a poem

the execution of a life

with the knowledge that

poetry was worthy of living

4.

poetry oblivious of the fact that it may

disappear into itself

.

poetry fearful

of self-possession

.

beneath the canopy poetry was…