DEEP SORROW “Pretending to buy star fruit and sell limeEven becoming a debt collector, in my pretense to visit you” (1) I am, still a country girl Rowing boat, irrigating water, fermenting bean and making sweet dumplings Dare I not expose of my soft white skin Only the gentle wind caress my long hair as I lie on the hammock made of cloud Thinking of you starving day and night While cooking and cleaning even with mother’s scolding I never utter words of sorrow Naïve as you, some floating weed, never know sunshine nor dew drop Destiny acting as debt, seeking love I am a bowl of old rice, will satisfy your hunger Separated us, but a green field Plowing in early morning, planting in the afternoon, then hoping for rain at night I Dream of a greenish river Bathing in the high tide, racing to wash our feet at low tide The wind stroking the jackfruit, pulling the root of the cork tree The sun teases my red camisole as the road quietly sheds its spring tear I am like a hive, and you its silk Why not become one to devour love for a thousand year A boy who dare not look Just like a young calf lying in wait for…the rain As I am just like a toad against the universe Waiting for a fallen star- then tip toeing and snapping my prey-The howling storm envelopes me in self-pity The door, ajar, waiting sadly as the night falls Reaching out, I pick a sprig of coriander Loving you with all my heart, but I must pretend to look away (2) MD.11/28/07 LuânTâm (1)+(2): Proverb Translation by Thuy Ai Nguyen  |
