18,
That day Hitler died(1945)
Saigon fell(1975)

You were born kid(1999)
A pale baby,
Your heritage, the isles of Philippines

Born on the island of Australis
Skin deepened
In the land of giant birds

A smiling baby
Brooding young youth
To shouldering the world

You are just 18:
Much to learn
Ego to earn
Infinite paths

You are but 18.

Happy birthday kid.
[A poem for James Cases 2017]

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.

18 responses

Trương Hiếu

Apr 16, 2025

Ok !

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Unique”you”

Apr 18, 2025

Nice.good luck..

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.Killa.

Jul 27, 2025

There are alot of interesting details in this short poem 👍😄.

I didn’t know Australia was also known as Australis and also referred to as the land of giant birds 📝. But when you mentioned that it’s a poem for James Cases 2017, do you mean that you actually made this in 2017 for James Cases?

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1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
  
  Jul 28, 2025
  
  yeah, the kid is now a full grown electrician. he used to work for me as a pharmacy assistant, only because he didn’t know what to do with his life.. 🙂 very sweet kid.
  
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  1. .Killa.
    
    Jul 28, 2025
    
    Awww that’s incredibly touching 💞☺️.
    
    Good to hear where he is now in life and it’s awesome knowing that his earlier years were shared with you 💙💙🤗
    
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  2. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
    
    Jul 28, 2025
    
    can I ask a personal question? were you born in the year of the rabbit in the chinese zodiac/ cat in the vietnamese zodiac?
    
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  3. .Killa.
    
    Jul 28, 2025
    
    I had zero knowledge about the the Chinese/Vietnamese zodiacs but thanks to google, I was able to look it up, and I can confirm that my birth history does align with these Chinese and Vietnamese zodiacs of great significance 😆😁💙
    
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  4. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
    
    Jul 28, 2025
    
    so are you a rabbit? 🙂
    
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  5. .Killa.
    
    Jul 28, 2025
    
    Maybe as the costume version around Halloween times 🐰😈🤭😂
    
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  6. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
    
    Jul 29, 2025
    
    I was just curious, I don’t believe in zodiac star charts etc but I do not totally disregard it. My father studied it. my brain wants a scientific answer to a star chart. :))
    
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  7. .Killa.
    
    Jul 29, 2025
    
    I get where you are coming from, I am much the same too. I find the zodiacs interesting in general but I know next to nothing about zodiacs and don’t really believe in anything that is perceived to able to tell the future lol
    
    But in this case it was really cool how your guess about the rabbit in the chinese zodiac/ and the cat in the vietnamese zodiac possibly being related to me in some form or fashion was a good guess haha
    
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jonicaggiano

Jul 27, 2025

Wow Trâm this puts things into perspective for the young of our world. 😘

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1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
  
  Jul 28, 2025
  
  to be connected again with the rest of the world is nice “sometimes” :)) thank you for my boost of confidence Joni. ❤
  
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Swamigalkodi Astrology

Oct 19, 2025

Appealing

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Dracul Van Helsing

Jan 4, 2026

A great birthday poem to get for one’s birthday.

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1. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
  
  Jan 4, 2026
  
  pretty cool right :))
  
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  1. Dracul Van Helsing
    
    Jan 4, 2026
    
    It is pretty cool. 🙂
    
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  2. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
    
    Jan 4, 2026
    
    heheh :))
    
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