Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Văn Học Ngoại Biên — Literature Beyond

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An afternoon at the end of the week | 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.

25 responses

  1. .Killa. avatar
    .Killa.

    Great poem; I was intrigued by the concept and the message 👍🙂. Your translations are sharp and super helpful as usual 🙌🙌😆

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
      Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

      Thank you I think, I feel some what a rather sarcastic undertone in your compliment, though it could simply reflect my mood around Christmas with adult children.. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        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

      2. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        :)) you kill me, I am on the other hand 100% sarcastic lol.. you should just take everything I say with a pinch of salt to enhance the umami 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        🤣🤣 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

      4. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        ❤ Thank you 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      5. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

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

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

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        likewise, all the best for the new year

        Liked by 1 person

      7. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        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

      8. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        Ha ha, sarcasm is an art yeah. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  2. .Killa. avatar
    .Killa.

    “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
    1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
      Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

      No worries, I can’t remember what we’re talking about 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        🤭🤭😄 Sounds like you had a great Christmas 🤣🤣

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        What Christmas, ha ha. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. .Killa. avatar
    .Killa.

    “What Christmas, ha ha. 🙂”

    Christmas of 2022 😃😂. The one you forgot because you were tipsy 🤭💙😁

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
      Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

      heheh, you got me. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        I definitely hope I got you 😂🤣. I will not release my grip 🤭😁

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        ha ha, very funny. :))

        Liked by 1 person

      3. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        Your precious delight makes me beam with happiness 🤟😂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
        Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

        Cheeky

        Liked by 1 person

  4. .Killa. avatar
    .Killa.

    Hahaha you are sarcastic and I am cheeky — match made in heaven ✌️🙌😂💘

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
      Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

      ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. .Killa. avatar
        .Killa.

        🙌💞😄

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Louis avatar
    Louis

    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
    1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar
      Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

      thanks you, likewise, we all need a little more luck coming out of Covid.. Blessings to you and your family ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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