A poem in Vietnamese by Nguyễn Bắc Sơn
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

An hour before the march

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When I went to collect the rations

Mate, go and grab us some rượu đế Nùng* 

Let us drink for all the time we won’t be able to drink

The next seven days we’ll be lost in the jungle

Amidst a season of mountainous wind and rain

A heart without dutch courage is not a heart of a hero 

Amidst a season of jungle storms and sweeping wind

A heart without wine is a heart that misses home

Proud young soldiers

Struggling in the green mountains and ancient jungles

Plunging themselves head first into strife

Mourn at all for the flesh and bone of their birthright.

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FEBRUARY 2022

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*The Nùng people are a Central Tai ethic group living primarily in northeastern Vietnam and southwestern Guangxi.

rượu đế: prohibited home brewed rice wine, often hidden behind tall thick clumps of grass like cogon or “đế” grass native to Vietnam. Used commonly now to refer to any strong home brew, may it be out of rice or yam, etc..

source: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B9ng_people

https://nongnghiep.vn/ly-do-ruou-co-truyen-co-ten-la-ruou-de-ruou-ngang-quoc-lui-d182242.html

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Một tiếng đồng hồ trước khi lên đường hành quân

–

Khi tao đi lấy khẩu phần

Mày đi mua rượu đế Nùng* cho tao

Chúng mình nhậu đề trừ hao

Bảy ngày sắp đến nghêu ngao trong rừng

Mùa này gió núi mưa bưng

Trong lòng thiếu rượu anh hùng nhát gan

Mùa này gió bãi mưa ngàn

Trong lòng thiếu rượu hoang mang nhớ nhà

Những thằng lính trẻ hào hoa

Lưu đầy trong cõi rừng già núi xanh

Lao mình vào cuộc phân tranh

Tiếc thương xương máu sinh thành được ư.

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Nguồn: Nguyễn Bắc Sơn, Chiến tranh Việt Nam và tôi, NXB Đồng Dao, 1972

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Nguyễn Bắc Sơn (1944 – 4/8/2015) the poet was born and died Nguyễn Văn Hải, in Phan Thiết, Bình Thuận.

Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm, the blogger, poet and translator, born 1971 in Phu Nhuan, Saigon, Vietnam. The pharmacist currently lives and works in Western Sydney, Australia.