I witnessed it

From that dark corner in the basement 

You’ve inspired them

.

The pungent linseed and turpentine

The splitting headaches unkind

The sleepless nights’ pines

.

Sweeping yellows and sombre blues

The dark sneaking(always) through

Why? (Should you let it go!)

.

Ripping at the dark bleeding red 

The night pulling the strings

Fuck Destiny your master!

_____

(tặng Đinh Trường Chinh)

OCTOBER 2019

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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.