A poem in Vietnamese by Lê Vĩnh Tài
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Art: Đinh Trường Chinh
I wanted to climb up, through your fireplace
but, I was worried about getting burn from your mother’s fire
I wanted to climb up the front ladder of your longhouse
but, I was worried about the light from your mother’s fireplace
so, I climbed through your window
(Êđê Folklore)
may I kiss you
I have waited for so long
I have waited for a taste of your lips
wondered if it might taste like the taste of our childhood
I will ask you again for the last time
May I kiss you?
or should I tell you a secret
I will take the stars from my pocket
and hide them in the darkest corner of your mind
these stars
they will quietly call out my name
as you fall asleep…
a pocket full of sunlight
shimmering joy
a pocket full of stars
in the darkest of nights
a pocket full of fairy godmothers
to help the poor
a pocket full of tears
enough to drench, the soil at your feet
and lastly
a pocket full of moonlight
in your eyes
—
February 2023
_
anh muốn lên phía trong
nhưng sợ lửa mẹ em cháy
anh muốn lên đàng ngoài
sợ ngọn lửa mẹ em sáng
cho nên anh phải trèo cửa sổ…
(dân ca ede)
tôi có thể hôn bạn không
tôi đã chờ đợi rất lâu
khao khát được nếm thử đôi môi bạn
xem chúng có còn mùi vị như khi ta còn trẻ
tôi sẽ hỏi một lần cuối
tôi có thể hôn bạn không?
hay là để tôi nói cho bạn một bí mật
tôi sẽ lấy những vì sao ra khỏi túi
cho vào góc khuất trong tâm hồn bạn
những vì sao
sẽ thì thầm tên tôi
khi bạn ngủ thiếp đi…
một cái túi đầy ánh mặt trời
lấp lánh niềm vui
một cái túi đầy các ngôi sao
trong đêm thật tối
một cái túi đầy những bà tiên
giúp những người nghèo
một cái túi đầy nước mắt
thấm ướt cả mặt đất
cuối cùng
bạn có một túi đầy ánh trăng
trong đôi mắt bạn
Lê Vĩnh Tài, the poet and translator born in 1966 in Buon Ma Thuot, Daklak, Vietnam. The retired doctor is still a resident of the Western Highlands and a businessman in Buon Ma Thuot.
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 
Nguyen this is such a beautiful poem, wow wow wow wow! I love this so so so so much! I also love the picture you’ve chosen for it too! I imagine the narrator transforms into a cat for safety reasons (from the mother) so they can come to the person and deliver these gifts. This is such a phenomenal gift and I am grateful for you for sharing it!
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Heheh, now you’re making blush, thanks yeah. “may I kiss you” a line from E. E. Cummings, another line from one of my favourite poem, very funny as well, check it out yeah.
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I think I read it on your page!! I noticed the similarity in the lines!
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❤ ❤ ❤
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