A poem in Vietnamese by Tô Thùy Yên

Translator: Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

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You(em), heading for…

You, heading for the mountain, for the sea…

Going into hiding? On a search? Urgently

Tomorrow perhaps, lay down on a grassy bank

I’m at least satisfied I’ve been

May your heart be light as you head out

As the light draws in good fortune

Fulfil the heart’s desire, surpass the impossible

Alone, roads opening up like fingers fanning

Crossing the bounds of suspicion

See flowers as flowers…

The spirit shaking, the shrieks cutting

Falling on time, despite myself

Hiding or finding, both impossible

Walk, keep walking, unless walking takes away…

How can a lifetime of impermanence be enough

And never experienced any kind of passion?

Soon or later there will be the teetering changes

There’s no real status in life, let alone an ego?

Not long…