A poem in Vietnamese by Phan Nhiên Hạo
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
The tires did not seem to stick on the thin narrow strip
the streets shaved bare refined and feminine
crumbling bits of pavement and street slippers for sale.
Around and around the lake howling were various machinery
bouncing spikey blue and red hair teenagers
Chinese tours, Ngoc Son, Temple of Literature.
The dry tired old turtle sticking its neck out for money
no light sprinkling showers lazy souls in the pan
no popcorn just swarms of flies covered in grease.
A show of thinkers sipping on Western wine
taking their time as they take out the blade for their own castration.
—
February 2023
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Thành phố văn[g] vật
Đường gầy xe chạy nhanh không dính
phố mới chân cạo lông nữ tính
bán hoặc thuê dép lê gạch vụn.
Bờ hồ đông máy rú vòng vòng
tưng tởn trẻ dựng tóc đỏ xanh
du lịch Tàu, Ngọc Sơn, Văn Miếu.
Cụ Rùa khô mỏi cổ ngóng tiền
không mưa râm người lười trong chảo
ruồi đầy bơ tưởng bắp rang.
Bậc thức giả ngồi nhấp rượu Tây
rồi thong thả rút dao, tự thiến.
Source: Radio mùa hè
Phan Nhiên Hạo, the poet and translator born in 1967 in Kontum, Vietnam, currently works and lives in Illinois, the United States of America.
Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm, the blogger, poet, and translator, was born in 1971 in Phu Nhuan, Saigon, Vietnam. The pharmacist currently lives and works in Western Sydney, Australia.
Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm 
Beautiful depiction of the town’s struggles and resilience in the face of decay.
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Thank you ❤
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The struggle captured beautifully. The imagery can be applied to many of the forgotten towns I drive through. Sometimes, I stop the truck and walk into diner or store striking up a conversation about nothing in particular. I’m unsure why I do it. Perhaps, it’s of letting them know they are seen by someone beyond the city limits. Nice thought-provoking piece. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and share your kind thoughts and memories. Cheers to human connection.
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