“Pretending to buy star fruit and sell lime
Even 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
Translation by Thuy Ai Nguyen |