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White Bones

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Translated by Andy Kale

 

Let's assume me to be a spoilt child, Mother
For not fulfilling Father’s former career
not mature yet finding my life blindly drifting away
When today is it light or dark?

Regard me as having been dead, Mother.
Since the first moment you saw me off crying
On my forehead your fragrance still lingering
So affectionate as the merciful Holy Mother.

Forget me as the once lost homeland
Though on Father’s head the hair has turned white.
There's still, in this strange land, the same tinge of home's familiar clouds
So how can I pull back the waning moon ?

Let's assume it to be like flowing water, Mother
Or as I had not been born
Wrecked and lost nights are followed by days of sadness and shame
The grief swayed along the shady white of the dark soul

Now I am in exile, Mother
And then my white bones will be left in a strange place
Send my words to Father, please Mother
That hard as it is, I still hold a smile

Nguyen Duc Batngan

Original title: Xuong Trang
From: "Binh Minh Cam" (Shrouded Dawn)
A collection of poetry written in 1975
published in 1985.

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