___________

VIETNAMESE
LITERATURE
TRANSLATIONS

POETRY
___________

 

 

 

 

HOANG NGOC HUONG
______________

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME

Translated by N. SAOMAI

 This is not the first time
I stretch my skin to give you birth
This is not the first time
I teach you the language of the world.

 This is not the first time
My hair is flying white in your childhood
This is not the first time
Hollow are my eyes,
weary and worn out my skin and flesh.

 This is not the first time
Down below in the dry earth I lie
This is not the first time
Your tears run sweet my grave.

For
I had lived,
and died
You had also died - and rose
from the death
Many, many times, I have been you.

And many, many times
you have been me - also
Therefore,
This is not the first time.

 Translated by N. SAOMAI
( SongVan Magazine, issue 10 )

 

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