Văn Học Ngoại Biên — Literature Beyond

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A poem in Vietnamese by Phan Nhiên Hạo
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
Art: Đinh Trường Chinh

April 30th, 1975
The T54 tank masturbated in front of the Independence Palace
in and out in and out many times on the green grass
in ecstatic convulsions
and fervent malarial fever.

It has been a smutty Saigon ever since.

30 tháng 4, 1975



30 tháng 4, 1975
Xe Tăng T54 thủ dâm trước dinh Độc Lập
thụt thụi nhiều lần lên thảm cỏ xanh
sướng ngất trong cơn co giật
sốt rét.

Sài Gòn tục tỉu từ đó.

2011

Nguồn: thơ phan nhiên hạo, Radio mùa hè


Phan Nhiên Hạo, the poet and translator born 1967 in Kontum, Vietnam, currently works and lives in Illinois, the United States of America.

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.

7 responses

  1. Dracul Van Helsing avatar

    This poem sums up Saigon quite nicely ever since all of Vietnam fell under Communist rule back on April 30th 1975.

    My hairstylist and barber is a Vietnamese woman.

    Last time I got my haircut (which was a few weeks ago), she was saying that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is turning Canada into a Communist country like the Vietnam of her childhood that she and her family were forced to flee.

    She’s absolutely right.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. syl65 avatar

    Powerful sentiments. So many global atrocities at the hands of ignorant men.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar

      War leaves a bad taste in your mouth.. All the best for surviving the rest of the week yeah. Cheers

      Liked by 2 people

      1. syl65 avatar

        I wholeheartedly agree 💯 Thank you and sending you some good vibes for the rest of the week ☺️Cheers

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm avatar

        Received them, thank you. 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      3. syl65 avatar

        🙏🏽🙂

        Liked by 2 people

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