THE MORONIC NATURE OF ABANDONMENT | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

I find it rather ironic
Not so moronic
I am introduced to Dickinson
Through the vernacular
Of my mother’s tongue

Your vernacular.
Okay.
I forgive you.
Or should I forgive myself.

It no longer matters.

I will not let such an intangible thing as abandonment hinder
My affection for you.

The residue
of such pain
you will have to
carry it
alone.

tôi thấy hay
là một sự may
tôi đọc Dickinson vì anh
bằng tiếng của mẹ đẻ

ngôn ngữ của anh.
okay.
tôi sẽ bỏ qua cho anh.
hay tôi nên bỏ qua cho tôi.

nó không còn là một vấn đề nữa.

tôi sẽ không để sự bỏ rơi
cái món chẳng ăn được, làm ôi
sự quý mến
tôi dành riêng cho anh

những mảnh vụn đau đã
làm tôi khóc
anh cần gánh nó
một mình.

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.

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By Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

There's magic in translating a body of work from one language to another.

14 comments

  3. Heartfelt and deep 😌💯💯; the text on the shirt that reads “another wine bottle with no genie at the bottom”, is quite a reality check 👌😅

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Hahaha, it’s me 🤣🤣

        Good question, I am not 100% sure but I think it might have something to do with making the comment on the “full view” mode of your post which I did this time, versus commenting through “reader mode” — maybe due to a setting or configuration that’s specific to your site 🤔

        Liked by 1 person

      2. When I commented earlier today in full view mode I didn’t get the “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” notice, but when I made my reply to you through reader mode, it worked correctly and gave me the “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” notice lol

        Liked by 1 person

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