A poem in Vietnamese by Đinh Thị Như Thúy
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
even uninformed was the sunlight
moss ridden cracked walls
we were lost at Thi Sơn intersection
all paths lead to forbidden seas
Đáy River made the inevitable appearance
beyond the twists and turns
stagnant water hyacinth
beached human fate
as we asked each other again and again
what do you want
dawn is always out of sight beyond the fog
looked down from above
watched the leaves fell
Đáy River did not drift away
a face appeared amongst the gentle light
like a dream
ripe autumn persimmon
high up in the sky
plum and rosy in the canopy
the delight
–
January 2024
—
TRÊN ĐƯỜNG ĐẾN CHÙA BÀ ĐANH
cả nắng cũng bặt tin
rêu loang tường vỡ
chúng mình ngơ ngác giữa ngã tư Thi Sơn
đường nào cũng mang biển cấm
rồi sông Đáy cũng hiện ra
sau rất nhiều loanh quanh tìm kiếm
lục bình trên sông không trôi
phận người mắc cạn
chúng mình lại hỏi nhau
ta mong mỏi những gì
giữa trùng vây mù sương sớm mai
đứng trên tầng cao
nhìn lá rụng
sông Đáy không trôi
khuôn mặt người hiện ra
giữa dịu dàng nắng trong mơ
những trái hồng mùa thu
trên cành cao chín đỏ
Đinh Thị Như Thuý
Đinh Thị Như Thuý, born 16-9-1965 in Hue,Vietnam. The Vietnamese poet attended high school in Danang, and university in Dalat, then was a literature teacher in Krong Pac district, Dak Lak province. Currently, she works at the Union of Literature and Arts of Da Nang City. She also used the pseudonyms Như Thuý, Như Dã Quỳ.
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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“ripe autumn persimmon
high up in the sky
plum and rosy in the canopy” – love that! ☺️
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Thúy’s poetry is rather a contrast to Thanh Tâm Tuyền. More Zen more in the present, I find peace each time I read her work. It’s lovely hearing form you Sunra.. ❤
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You are welcome, Trâm 🩷
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Beautiful scenery and beautiful poem.
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