to begin a poem | Bùi Chát

Khai mạc 'Đang trôi'. Photo by Trà Cù Lủ

poem inspired art by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

the way one would go to sleep
what could truly be
beyond the aptitude of forgetfulness
where we did once upon a time exist
to begin a poem

Để bắt đầu một bài thơ


Như cách chúng ta khởi động giấc ngủ
Điều gì đã thực sự tồn tại
Ngoài kinh nghiệm của lãng quên
Nơi chúng ta từng hiện diện
Để bắt đầu một bài thơ

(Chúng ta đang trôi đi đâu?! – Nxb Đà Nẵng 2025)


Bùi Chát is the poet, writer, publisher and artist’s pen name. Bùi Quang Viễn was born on October 22, 1979, at Hố Nai, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province, Việt Nam. Born to family of patriotic Catholic refugees from the North in 1954.

Graduated in 2001 from the Faculty of Literature, Linguistics, and Journalism of Hồ Chí Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Bùi Chát named and cofounded Nhóm Mở Miệng (Open Mouth Group) with the poet and writer Lý Đợi, promoting Graveyard & Garbage Poetry.

Nhà Xuất bản Giấy Vụn (Scrap Paper Publishing House), also founded by Bùi Chát, distributions of xerographically structured sensitive works by “pavement poets”. In 2004, Bùi Chát and cofounder Lý Đợi were detained for two days for distributing flyers at a poetry reading raided by the authority. In 2005, the culture department blocked their performance at the Goethe Institute in Hà Nội.

In 2011, Bùi Chát was awarded the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize “for his exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish.” He was arrested on his return to Việt Nam after receiving the award in Buenos Aires and detained for several days.

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.

aesthetic and social norm | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Sydney winter 2025, it snowed in Queensland, and the last time it snowed in Queensland was in 1975, 50 years ago. Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

aesthetic and social norm
you must conform

slim down
– you’re too fat!

dye your hair
– you’re too grey!

shut up
– you’re a woman!

you like sex?
– you’re a whore!

CONFORM TO SOCIAL NORM

I am fat
I am grey
I speak up
I love sex

THE ART OF LIVING

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.

Write | Bùi Chát

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

I am writing before I put pen to paper
I am writing after I put my pen down
I stop writing when I put pen to paper
When I put pen to paper
I am thoughtful
I am full of thoughts

Viết


Tôi viết trước khi viết
Và viết sau khi viết
Trong khi viết tôi không viết
Tôi chỉ nghĩ
Chỉ nghĩ


Bùi Chát is the poet, writer, publisher and artist’s pen name. Bùi Quang Viễn was born on October 22, 1979, at Hố Nai, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province, Việt Nam. Born to family of patriotic Catholic refugees from the North in 1954.

Graduated in 2001 from the Faculty of Literature, Linguistics, and Journalism of Hồ Chí Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Bùi Chát named and cofounded Nhóm Mở Miệng (Open Mouth Group) with the poet and writer Lý Đợi, promoting Graveyard & Garbage Poetry.

Nhà Xuất bản Giấy Vụn (Scrap Paper Publishing House), also founded by Bùi Chát, distributions of xerographically structured sensitive works by “pavement poets”. In 2004, Bùi Chát and cofounder Lý Đợi were detained for two days for distributing flyers at a poetry reading raided by the authority. In 2005, the culture department blocked their performance at the Goethe Institute in Hà Nội.

In 2011, Bùi Chát was awarded the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize “for his exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish.” He was arrested on his return to Việt Nam after receiving the award in Buenos Aires and detained for several days.

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.

the gains and the pitfalls | Bùi Chát

Lời - lỗ Acrylic, sơn dầu, oilstick.. trên canvas 115x160cm 2024 by Bùi Chát

poem inspired art by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

as soon as it is liquid
it is a gain
though sometimes it is a pitfall

my ancestors were born in
these pits
the pits they eat
live and die in
gain was never a word in their mind

me composing a poem without a word
a poem without gain
dying nearly without a pit

living – the pitfall is the gain
poetry – the gain is the pitfall
enthusiastically: the pitfall bears the gain

L ờ i – l ỗ

Khởi thủy là lời
Nhưng có khi là lỗ

Tổ tiên tôi sinh ra
Ở lỗ
Ăn lỗ
Sống, chết trong lỗ
Chưa bao giờ biết lời

Tôi làm thơ không lời
Thơ không ăn lời
Chết không kịp lỗ

Sống – lấy lỗ làm lời
Thơ – lấy lời làm lỗ
Nhiệt liệt: lời ăn lỗ chịu

(Chúng ta đang trôi đi đâu?! – Nxb Đà Nẵng 2025)


Bùi Chát is the poet, writer, publisher and artist’s pen name. Bùi Quang Viễn was born on October 22, 1979, at Hố Nai, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province, Việt Nam. Born to family of patriotic Catholic refugees from the North in 1954.

Graduated in 2001 from the Faculty of Literature, Linguistics, and Journalism of Hồ Chí Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Bùi Chát named and cofounded Nhóm Mở Miệng (Open Mouth Group) with the poet and writer Lý Đợi, promoting Graveyard & Garbage Poetry.

Nhà Xuất bản Giấy Vụn (Scrap Paper Publishing House), also founded by Bùi Chát, distributions of xerographically structured sensitive works by “pavement poets”. In 2004, Bùi Chát and cofounder Lý Đợi were detained for two days for distributing flyers at a poetry reading raided by the authority. In 2005, the culture department blocked their performance at the Goethe Institute in Hà Nội.

In 2011, Bùi Chát was awarded the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize “for his exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish.” He was arrested on his return to Việt Nam after receiving the award in Buenos Aires and detained for several days.

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.

T H E R A I N | Hoàng Xuân Sơn

A poem in Vietnamese by Hoàng Xuân Sơn
Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

[dịch tặng chị Duyen]

the storm flying in her head
the storm sighing in her hair
the storm weeping in her tears
the storm mournful on her shoulders
the storm curled up at the hem of her trousers
sobbing small body in white
.
the storm in the dorm room
the storm knocking against all four walls
the storm bawling through the pages of her books
the storm breathing after the calm
the storm passing fall more gentler please
when it rains…

M Ư A


mưa bay trong đầu
mưa sầu trên tóc
mưa khóc đôi hàng
mưa quàng áo trắng
mưa lăn gấu quần
ướt đầm vai nhỏ
,
mưa nằm quán trọ
mưa gõ vách buồn
mưa tuôn sách vở
mưa thở qua đời
mưa ơi, nhè nhẹ . . .

)(
h o à n g x u â n s ơ n
Sài Gòn 1969


Hoàng Xuân Sơn 

A renowned poet, born 1942, writes under various pseudonyms: Hoàng Xuân Sơn, Sử Mặc, Hoàng Hà Tỉnh, Vô Ðịnh… 

Hometown: Vỹ Dạ, Huế.

Lý Thường Kiệt Primary  

Bán Công High School and Quốc Học Huế High School

Bachelor of philosophy, and postgraduate of political science and commerce at The university of Văn Khoa Sài Gòn. 

Worked at the Ministry of Transport and Communication, a branch of the General Department of Postal Service of the Republic of Vietnam.

After 1975 worked in the Postal Office for 7 years. December 1981 settled in Montreal, Canada.

The poet’s career span from 1970 to the present day his work has been published in many literary publications. In vietnam: Văn, Chính Văn, Diễn  Ðàn, Khởi Hành, Nghiên Cứu Văn Học, Ðối Diện, Thân Hữu, Xây Dựng Nông Thôn, Ngưỡng Cửa, Nhà Văn. Outside of Vietnam: Làng Văn, Văn Học, Văn, Thế Kỷ 21, Chủ Ðề,  Sóng, Sóng Văn, Nắng Mới, Saigon Times, Hợp Lưu, Phố Văn,  Gío Văn , Canh Tân, Ði Tới, tạp chí Thơ. 

Collaborating platforms: Litviet (U.S.A), Tienve (Australia), Vanchuongviet… and the translations of his poetry into English by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm on SONGNGUTAITRAM.

Published work:

Viễn Phố (thơ, Việt Chiến xb 1988)

Huế Buồn Chi (thơ,93)

Lục Bát (thơ, 2005)

Ref: vanchuongviet.org

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.

there were six people there | Bùi Chát

Khai mạc 'Đang trôi'. Bùi Chát on the right.

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

prawn heads cooked with calabash soft centre

the husband served the soup

the wife slurped it down

the help said it was delicious

the nosy neighbour reported it

the reason why I wrote this poem

even though I do not know
who could possibly be the sixth

Chuyện sáu người


Râu tôm nấu với ruột bầu

Chồng chan

Vợ húp

Người hầu khen ngon

Hàng xóm nhiều chuyện nghe thấy kể lại

Nên tôi viết bài này

Nhưng tôi không biết ai là người thứ sáu

(Chúng ta đang trôi đi đâu?! - Nxb Đà Nẵng 2025)

Bùi Chát is the poet, writer, publisher and artist’s pen name. Bùi Quang Viễn was born on October 22, 1979, at Hố Nai, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province, Việt Nam. Born to family of patriotic Catholic refugees from the North in 1954.

Graduated in 2001 from the Faculty of Literature, Linguistics, and Journalism of Hồ Chí Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Bùi Chát named and cofounded Nhóm Mở Miệng (Open Mouth Group) with the poet and writer Lý Đợi, promoting Graveyard & Garbage Poetry.

Nhà Xuất bản Giấy Vụn (Scrap Paper Publishing House), also founded by Bùi Chát, distributions of xerographically structured sensitive works by “pavement poets”. In 2004, Bùi Chát and cofounder Lý Đợi were detained for two days for distributing flyers at a poetry reading raided by the authority. In 2005, the culture department blocked their performance at the Goethe Institute in Hà Nội.

In 2011, Bùi Chát was awarded the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize “for his exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish.” He was arrested on his return to Việt Nam after receiving the award in Buenos Aires and detained for several days.

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.

undeniable | Bùi Chát

Không thể chối từ 85x110cm Sơn dầu, Oilstick trên canvas 2023 artist: Bùi Chát

poem inspired art by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

it can kill
turn people into killers

turn people into liars
drown people in hate

it’s as attractive. as a disguise
the eyes used to incite evil

from quietude
undeniable

K h ô n g t h ể c h ố i t ừ

Nó có thể giết chết ngươi
Biến ngươi thành thủ phạm

Nó làm ngươi trở nên dối trá
Dìm ngươi trong hận thù

Nó hấp dẫn. Như mặt nạ
Ngươi mang vào để thực thi cái ác

Nó đến trong thinh lặng
Và ngươi không thể chối từ

(Chúng ta đang trôi đi đâu?! – Nxb Đà Nẵng 2025)


Bùi Chát is the poet, writer, publisher and artist’s pen name. Bùi Quang Viễn was born on October 22, 1979, at Hố Nai, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province, Việt Nam. Born to family of patriotic Catholic refugees from the North in 1954.

Graduated in 2001 from the Faculty of Literature, Linguistics, and Journalism of Hồ Chí Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Bùi Chát named and cofounded Nhóm Mở Miệng (Open Mouth Group) with the poet and writer Lý Đợi, promoting Graveyard & Garbage Poetry.

Nhà Xuất bản Giấy Vụn (Scrap Paper Publishing House), also founded by Bùi Chát, distributions of xerographically structured sensitive works by “pavement poets”. In 2004, Bùi Chát and cofounder Lý Đợi were detained for two days for distributing flyers at a poetry reading raided by the authority. In 2005, the culture department blocked their performance at the Goethe Institute in Hà Nội.

In 2011, Bùi Chát was awarded the IPA Freedom to Publish Prize “for his exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish.” He was arrested on his return to Việt Nam after receiving the award in Buenos Aires and detained for several days.

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.

Bạn là ai? Tôi chẳng phải là ai! | Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Bạn là ai? Tôi chẳng phải là ai!
Bạn cũng – chẳng phải là ai – luôn sao?
Là ta đã là một cặp! Đừng cho ai hay nha!
Không thì bạn biết đấy – họ sẽ tống ta ra!

Tiêu điều ôi – khi ta là – Một ai đó!
Thật công khai – như chú Ếch –
Ộp ộp tên bạn – tháng sáu mùa hạ chí –
Trước sự ngưỡng mộ của một cái vũng đầm lầy!


Emily Elizabeth Dickinson [1830-1886] là một nhà thơ người Mỹ. Ít được biết đến trong suốt cuộc đời, bà đã được coi là một trong những nhân vật quan trọng nhất trong nền thơ ca Mỹ. Dickinson sinh ra tại Amherst, Massachusetts, trong một gia đình danh giá có mối quan hệ chặt chẽ với cộng đồng.

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.