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The Writers Post VOLUME 8 NUMBER 1 JAN 2006
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MAI
VAN PHAN __________________________________ three
poems by MAI VAN PHAN translated
by Do Xuan Oanh Top-notch watchfulness my mind wanted to guide the mouse
creeping out from narrow sewer to courteously crawl into garbage bucket
and lie dead tidily garbage truck would bring the mice away
to bury Forever the city would have no mice. Another way of thinking : Scoop water in Hai Phong port Water turned itself clean Itself bottled and rolled into
restaurants, hotels… Poor people come there to collect money. I was consecrated phenomenon photo published on cover page entertained until dead drunk. You or five or seven girls helped me home
? Caught a glimpse of somebody cycling in
narrow alley Or tens of thousands actors performing
amid the square ? Never exert oneself to speak about
confidence and hope when crossing narrow door slit sea wind was shooting in each arrow
pleasantly fresh. Aware would survive The house of hamlet chief had a road pierce into its front door. Open fortune-telling book to consult there might be disaster. The book also said in item Mole page 267 third line from down up… hinting those who flirt and court… A mole on left eye of the girl collecting
electricity fees was identified being caught in the act last night hugging and kissing hamlet chief in the
dog meat pub… “Minutes
were made into 5 copies of
equal juridical value”. Old man owner of dog meat pub knew too
many things questioned by other people forced to give statement during five
hours back to gateway got violent scold from
the wife Silver haired and still stupid ! The old man felt bitter at the nose choked with anger to the neck but thinking it over found it too true stealthily drank a few cups of alcohol went out to the yard looking at sunshine. Next time aware only keep in mind What for speak out. Rhythm of autumn return Autumn dropped thousands and thousands of ferry boats Breathing rhythmical the dipping water sound An invisible rower leaned on my shoulder Both river banks trembled thumping Rain drop broke from dream in summer Leaf of grass rose to welcome each gulp shilly-shally Dead leaves decayed, soul rushed to the top Heaven returned to eye hollow in melting dew. It certainly was so close from here to that shore But why did it flutter throughout autumn Who fainted to beauty of flower infatuated Making that ferry boat return for searching. MAI
VAN PHAN The Writers Post & literature-in-translation, founded 1999, based in the US. Editorial note: Works published in this issue are simultaneously
published in the printed Wordbridge magazine (ISSN: 1540-1723). Copyright © Mai Van Phan & The Writers Post 2005. Nothing
in this magazine may be downloaded, distributed, or reproduced without the
permission of the author/ translator/ artist/ The Writers Post/ and Wordbridge magazine. Creating links to
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