Beautiful Woman
by Lò Ngân Sún: Beautiful woman face like snow / That feels hot when you touch it
Vietnam
Gifts
by Ỳ Nhi: One day / he brought her a small paper bag
My Stepmother
When my stepmother first came, her eyes were sharp and bright as little knives. Her youth and my childhood ran into each other–she was the victor. Although my father was still alive, I felt orphaned, depressed and alone, crying by myself, grew up alone. In the first years of peace, everyone drifted. My father went …
Pair of Shoes
by Nguyễn Quyén: My future lives come to me in dreams / Come silently with torn soles.
Smell of Rain or Poem of M.
by Hoàng Hùng : All the tears of the world surround our house tonight. / You lie against me and the rain is falling
Standing Before You
Standing before you I am the mouse before the rice jar I am the bear before the tree, a hive full of honey high in the branches I am the tiger ready to pounce on his food But I am not a mouse Not a bear Also not a tiger Standing before you I am …
Night Train
The train runs rhythmically through the night The wheels sound like the hooves of horses Night spreads out thickly around the train a breathing animal Parallel rails Pull me through the night I want to know; How many miles through the night? How long is the night? I will not sleep And will measure the …
Meadow
She is a small calf With eyes as deep as her mother’s. The rain of the early July morning Stirs the mud around her heavy hooves Releasing the thick smell of mud and last year’s dung. This flesh that her mother cares for They treat with whips and boughs With shovels and hoe handles With …
Lap Zuy
Now it is time for mother to be rid of mourning by hanging it on the young moon Lap Zuy waddles like a bird Walking around on his pink feet the child hangs onto his stuffed bear a mother’s dream While her son sleeps the young woman embarrasses herself thirsting for things she wants while …
My stepmother
When my stepmother first came, her eyes were sharp and bright as little knives. Her youth and my childhood ran into each other – she was the victor. Although my father was still alive, I felt orphaned, depressed and alone, crying by myself, grew up alone. In the first years of peace, everyone drifted. My …