An afternoon at the end of the week | Bạch Diệp

Bạch Diệp

A poem in Vietnamese by Bạch Diệp
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Gathering up pieces of the afternoon
Tucking them away in a draw
A wistful thorn
Like you

April is unsteady
Drunk, oblivious and unaware
Streets and crown land scattered with geranium

Draped quietly across the lawn
Strokes of gorse and canvas
Roses and Jack London on the wooden bookshelf

The regret.

CHIỀU CUỐI TUẦN



Nhặt những câu chuyện của chiều 
Cho vào ngăn kéo
Cả anh nữa
Chiếc gai đăm chiêu

Tháng Tư đi như người say nói như người ngây
Phố là điền trang nở đầy hoa phong lữ

Rũ những vạt âm thầm trên cỏ
Bằng nét cọ kim tước và toan
Đặt lên kệ gỗ hoa hồng ngài Jack London

Em nhớ chúng ta đã làm điều không muốn.

                BD 11.04.2022

Bạch Diệp, the poet and artist lives in Hue, Vietnam.

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's avatar

By Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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

25 comments

      1. Hahaha, I see what you mean 🤭🤭😄. I think it may have been the choice of emoji that gave the impression of a sarcastic undertone. But I am definitely not sarcastic about the fact that it is a great poem and I am definitely not sarcastic about the helpfulness of your translations 👍💯😄😄.

        I am not a sarcastic person; as a matter of fact, it’s within my nature to be very sincere and being positive and cheerful is just part of my personality lol

        Liked by 1 person

      3. 🤣🤣 I accept you as you are and will take your advice into consideration and I will continue to support you and compliment your work with positive and encouraging input just like I always have 👍😄☺️💕

        Liked by 1 person

      5. 🤩💕 awwww, you are very welcome ☺️🤗💙💙.

        I wish you and yours a marvelously Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🎉⭐🎄🎇🥰😘.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. You are incredible💕💕✌️🙂. Thank you so much, and I hope that 2⃣0⃣2⃣3⃣ will be a phenomenal year for you👍👍😂

        And remember, I never think that you are sarcastic, only that there are moments when you are drunk haha 😆

        Liked by 1 person

  2. “Ha ha, sarcasm is an art yeah. 🙂”

    LOL you make it look like an art 😂🤩💕💕

    Sorry for responding to this so late 🤭☺️🌹. I hope you’re well my friend 👍😄

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Happy New Year and above all good health to you and your whole family. Peace, justice, love and freedom for all oppressed peoples. Friendly kisses from Auvergne (France). ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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