dai nam van hien books, australia, 2014)
prose poems by mai trung tinh
TRANSLATED BY DAM XUAN CAN
( Dai Nam Van Hien Books, Australia, 2014)
1. episodes in a life
1
In the time of grief I start on a journey to unvisited places within my soul for change. But after a many a search I am still my old
self -- a wheel with its immutable spokes turning round and round with the passing of my days.
2
The voice, once raised, becomes a curse and the laugh turns obscene. Shocked I slid to the terrain of silence, evaporating in
solitude.
3
You make your apparence in a halo. In my dusty place, on the edge of despair, I take it as a signpot towards salvation, Throwing away the meagre things so far collected I rush into your arms. I feel the honey from your lips trickle to the tip of my dried tongue. I seek a refuge resting on your breats which are to me a somnolent
continent when the sky falls off on the cracked earth. I gladly glide myself there, conjuring with your hair, finding an exit from time.
4
Phú Thọ in late afternoon is a sad road to the cemetery. Today the race course is deserted. Now that the winds keep blustering their threats the lawn lies tattered as if after a battle of the gladiators. I, a two year colt, already feel the hoofs tire. I start pacting slowly, recalling days of glory when I gleefully screamed amidst the chee-
ring of the the crowd. But now everything is gone and I am alone in the old places, haunted by past memories. Panic stricken, I am worn out already. Turning I perceive only darkness burning all around.
2. look quickly over your shoulder
I, the summer bird, stand shrieking, my tongue dried and my eyes red with longing. Time and again I raise my voice to ask my country back, but summer is about to end, and the chill of autumn and winter will settle in before long. Day and night I picture my land in its olf splendor. My wings are wind weary and my forehead wrinkles with age. The sky is blue, the cloud is white as it has been from time immemorial. Beset by despair I cast a glance around and hear the cicadae crying their fill. How long will it be like this, I sadly think.
Dusk. The blanket of fire over the skyline seems to start burning the citadels anew, It is hapless to go on so I raise my wings and fly away.
3. farewell
Love, sit down before my outgoing energy runs dry. For many years I have embarked myself in busimess, but it has been much of a disaster. What is present status is -- This is something I can never quite make out, never, never again. I recall the first days of our love when you were young, passionate and cheerful. I recall urging you to wear powder and perfume before we went out, in Springtime
Suddenly I realise with no end of suffering your once gorgeous beauty is no longer, with you, my love. I myself become an actor with no one to respond to me. My smiles will not be easily spent and my circle of friends will be smaller. Sky and earth will go in their course with flames licking everything and leaving myself scorched.
You are depressed about it all and I concede utter defeat. Fear stricken we cry for help but nothing comes out from the crowd except sarcastic laughs. Helpless, I start moving back to my sad abode. Only you are still around and already I have tired of your flabby flesh. Taking a deep sigh I wither into my meagre self.
poems by mai trung tinh
TRANSLATED FROM VIETNAMESE BY DAM XUAN CAN
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