A poem in Vietnamese by Thanh Dang
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Photography: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

My poetry is about love not an invitation to love

I like beautiful things but I covet not beauty

My notes of devotion sceptical

In the high places unexplored

/

I write poetry, I love flowers

In my poetry, in my mind she will never age

I am forever young, my poetry is forever young

/

I love her in the arms of another

I like how she would smile brightly in the dark of night

She’s the four corners of the world, she is all faces, brilliant and ordinary

/

Ask me not why they are all beautiful, she is all beautiful

She is the spring, she is all alluring

She is the welcoming heart, opened arms

Draped across all things in golden moonlight

/

To love all but dream…