by Hoàng Hùng
He came back from that far country
to find his wife in tears all night and his children bewildered all day
He came back from that far country
to see his friends turn pale at his apparition
He came back from that far country
And in the crowded street he has shivers at the back of his neck
After a year he will still choke in the midst of a party
After two years he still wakes in a sweat from nightmares
After three years a white lizard remains in his memory
After ten years he continues the habit of sitting alone in darkness
A day comes when he is tired of their staring
a night comes when a soft voice questions him
A tap on the shoulder
Startles him
Translated by Hoàng Hùng and Joseph Duemer