The poem – there’s two way to handle it | Bùi Chát

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

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

1.
Fire


Silence
Might be golden
But as it confronts evil
Silence is golden only on the surface
That can easily contaminate

2.
But

As it confronts evil
Silence is golden only on the surface
That can easily contaminate

Bài thơ – hai cách xử


1.
Lửa

Im lặng
Có thể là vàng
Nhưng đối diện cái ác
Im lặng chỉ là vàng giả
Dễ gây ô nhiễm


2.
Nhưng

Đối diện cái ác
Im lặng chỉ là vàng giả
Dễ gây ô nhiễm

(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.

Mother | Bùi Chát

Khai mạc 'Đang trôi'. Art by Bùi Chát. Photo by Trà Cù Lủ

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Definitely not a river, a grain of rice,
Nation or memory at all

Nor anything truly terrible ever

Mother

That fucker

Has a husband and lots of children

A fact that will never change

Mẹ


Hẳn nhiên không phải dòng sông, hạt gạo,
Quê hương hay kí ức gì cả

Cũng chưa bao giờ là gì đó thực sự tệ hại

Mẹ

Là mẹ

Có chồng và thiệt nhiều con

Đấy là điều luôn được biết đến

(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.

Drowning | Bùi Chát

Khai mạc 'Đang trôi'. Bùi Chát in the middle. Photo by Trà Cù Lủ

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

I was about to compose a poem with all the words
I picked out from all the poems I have read
My wife stopped me just in time instead
– Are you sure you want to go ahead
People will watch you day and night
(Worried someone might steal their organs or kidnap their poems)
The litigation and lawsuits can drag out until when
Passing from one person to the next day in day out and then
There will be no one left to fend
Enough energy to chase after those new innovations
New poems

Đuối


Tôi đang định làm bài thơ
Bằng những từ được tháo ra từ bài thơ khác
Vợ tôi biết được, bả cản
Nếu anh nhất định làm vậy
Mọi người suốt ngày đêm canh chừng
(Sợ thơ mình bị bắt cóc hoặc lấy cắp nội tạng)
Cuộc kiện cáo giằng co có thể kéo dài
Từ người này sang người này, rồi lại sang ngày khác
Cuối cùng sẽ chẳng còn ai
Đủ sức chạy theo những loài thơ mới


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.

A conversation with a poet about poetry | Bùi Chát

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

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

In the middle of the first line 
– when you first put pen to paper
And the full stop. Once you are rather satisfied
With
A period that
Went on and on
An emptiness that could
Imprison a person's life

From such a point poetry is born
To then
Disappear forever

Together with the dissolution of the poet

Nói với nhà thơ về thơ


Giữa dòng chữ đầu – lúc ngươi đặt bút
Và dấu chấm hết. Khi tạm hài lòng

Một khoảnh khắc
Kéo dài
Một
Khoảng trống rỗng chiếm đoạt đời người

Từ đó thơ sinh ra
Rồi
Mất hút

Cùng với sự mất biến của nhà 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.

F a c e | Bùi Chát

Mặt Acrylic, Sơn dầu, Oilstick trên canvas 95x115cm 2022 Bùi Chát

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

you have no face
I have no face
then again no one has just one face

this dick has two face
that bitch has three
three faces and the same thing coming out of their mouth
yep, around six faces in a circle

the face of the enemy
the face of stupidity
the face of a cunt that gigolo
big dick long face

the greed
on that fuck face
my face?
what about it!

M ặ t

Mày có một khuôn mặt
Tao cũng một khuôn mặt
Nhưng không hẳn ai cũng một khuôn mặt

Thằng này hai mặt
Con kia ba mặt
Vậy thì ba mặt một lời
Ừ, thì ‘vòng tròn sáu mặt’

Con mặt giặc
Bọn mặt ngu
Thằng đĩ mặt l.
Mặt dài dái ngựa

Mặt nó mặt thịt
Mặt mày mặt mo
Mặt tao mặt gì?

(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.

Ways to die | Bùi Chát

Hoạ sĩ Noah Bùi kí hôm khai mạc. Cảm ơn em Hoàn Bùi Vẫn còn "Đang trôi"... -- Sketch of Bùi Chát by Noah

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

Vietnamese people prefer to die standing
Of course. Better than to live one’s life on one’s knees
If I had a choice

I really don’t want to die standing [1]
I don’t want to drown either [2]
I don’t want to die like I’m in a movie [3]
Nor do I want to die in agony [4]
I don’t want my dying to go on and on forever [5]
nor do I want to die as though it’s just my next meal [6]
I don’t want to die flying [7]
nor do I want to die too quickly either [8]
I don’t want to just die and that will be that [the end.] [9]

Because after all, as a poet
You must know how to nurture the ability
To live and die in limbo

Assembling

[1] Even though my poetry is straightforward very firm and straight actually
[2] In the same boat with those half-asleep
[3] Someone will waste their time searching
[4] Ignore those starved for attention scavengers of emotions
[5] When will I come? I will never know for sure
[6] To die daily, satisfied by death fully
[7] To the rise and fall moans(of ecstasy)
[8] Probably not the right Feng Shui
[9] According to the dictionary, death means You’re Fucked

Cách chết


Người Việt thích chết đứng
Dĩ nhiên. Hơn sống quỳ
Một khi phải lựa chọn

Tôi thật không muốn chết đứng [1]
Tôi cũng không muốn chết chìm [2]
Tôi không muốn chết như phim [3]
Và không muốn chết bồi hồi [4]
Tôi không muốn chết dài dằng dặc [5]
Tôi không muốn chết như cơm bữa [6]
Tôi không muốn chết bay lên [7]
Tôi không muốn chết không kịp ngáp [8]
Và không muốn chết là hết [the end.] [9]

Bởi dẫu sao, là một nhà thơ
Bạn phải biết cách nuôi dưỡng khả năng
Sống và chết lơ lửng

Ráp nối

[1] Dù thơ tôi ngay và rất thẳng
[2] Cùng xuồng bọn mắt lim dim
[3] Ai đó uổng công đi tìm
[4] Mặc bầy cảm xúc ăn hôi
[5] Biết ngày nào về? Thì tôi chưa chắc
[6] Chết hàng ngày, chết ngon miệng
[7] Bay xuống bay lên như một tiếng rên
[8] Phong thủy có lẽ không hạp
[9] Theo từ điển chết là Đệt [Death]


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.

M i s s i o n | Bùi Chát

Sứ mệnh Sơn dầu, oilstick trên canvas 150x200cm 2025 by Bùi Chát

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

I’m here and I will continue to
challenge myself
the way I have always challenged myself
challenge the meaninglessness
of meaning
of all that is iconic

S ứ m ệ n h

Tôi đến và tiếp tục
Chống lại tôi
Như đã từng chống lại tôi
Chống lại sự vô nghĩa
Của ý nghĩa
Của các biểu tượng

(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.

forget | Bùi Chát

Bui Chat_photo by Tao Lao

poem by Bùi Chát
translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

people generally remember
but for the most, the longer they live
the more they forget

forgetting a person’s name
forgetting something or another
that particular forest they were to give a name
that voice. to the point where there is a place where
they should not forget

for ten years I have forgotten how to write poetry
the verses they escaped me
together with those childish vows
the reason for my existence

lucky though
no matter how bad life gets
some things I will never forget
like how to tell someone to f..k off!

Quên


Nhiều người hay nhớ
Nhưng phần lớn thường quên
Càng sống càng dễ quên

Quên tên một người, hay một đồ vật
Quên một khu rừng quên chưa đặt tên
Quên một giọng nói. Thậm chí
Quên một nơi ở không được phép quên

Tôi đã quên làm thơ trong mười năm
Quên lời thề tuổi trẻ
Quên ý nghĩa tồn tại của mình

May mắn thay,
Dù cuộc đời rượt đuổi
Tôi vẫn không khi nào quên chửi


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.