Mai Văn Phấn
Translated from Vietnamese by Nhat-Lang Le
Edited by Susan Blanshard
Spreads everywhere
It’s time
For me to go home
It’s time
For me to go home
I drink my cup of water
Yet do not know the name of the bird
That just flew away
Yet do not know the name of the bird
That just flew away
Lands upon
The sunlight
The garden full of thorns
The sunlight
The garden full of thorns
Gets lost and flies into my room
I turn out the lights
Still it’s bright outside
I turn out the lights
Still it’s bright outside
In spring
Bathe
Even in places without water
Even in places without water
Perching on the wires
Looking from afar
Like knots
Looking from afar
Like knots
A bee flies across my door
Changing its socks quickly
And hits the road again
Changing its socks quickly
And hits the road again
Short calls
Switching branches constantly
Perhaps its nest is near
Switching branches constantly
Perhaps its nest is near
Lands in the yard
Looking at me
We know each other in our past lives
We know each other in our past lives
Perching on the same branch
Calling to each other
Until their voices go hoarse
Calling to each other
Until their voices go hoarse
Can sow
Seeds
Into stones
Seeds
Into stones
This morning
Regrettably
I don’t understand it all
Regrettably
I don’t understand it all
It gets more beautiful as I paint it
Suddenly I am afraid
It is turning into a real horse
Suddenly I am afraid
It is turning into a real horse
Its crane painting
When folded
Resembles a heap of ground meat
When folded
Resembles a heap of ground meat
Not picking them
I watch the red-whiskered bulbul
Nibble a little while singing
I watch the red-whiskered bulbul
Nibble a little while singing
An orchid blossom
Emits its scent
To a bush of oxalis
To a bush of oxalis
My hair still wet
I lean onto a calla lily
To listen to April’s melody
I look at the sun
Nearing a rainbow
Then vanishing
Nearing a rainbow
Then vanishing
After it is washed
Water condenses
Into large drops
Water condenses
Into large drops
Succulent and bright red
I can’t decide
Whether to bite from inside or outside
I can’t decide
Whether to bite from inside or outside
One bite at a time
As sunlight
Reflects bright red on the ceiling
As sunlight
Reflects bright red on the ceiling
Afterwards
Both the potato and the knife
Are pretty
Both the potato and the knife
Are pretty
Until
Tea is one way
I another
Tea is one way
I another
A cat misses its prey
The blade of an axe
Gets stuck in a log
The blade of an axe
Gets stuck in a log
A fish
Swims
Close to where I sit
Swarming at sunset
In pairs
They fly through my dream
In pairs
They fly through my dream
No more rattling please
On the sky
Stars have sprouted thickly
On the sky
Stars have sprouted thickly
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