Poetess Tran Thi Nuong from Vietnam

Photo: Dung Mai

Her biography:
Year of birth: 1953
Hometown: Tu Hiep, Ha Hoa, Phu Tho, Vietnam

Member of Vietnam Writers’ Association
Member of Vietnam Journalists’ Association
Member of Vietnam Association of Literature and Arts of Ethnic Minorities
Member of Hanoi Writers’ Association
Published: 16 volumes of poems
15 awards of Central and Local Culture and Arts Associations.

An unnamed vortex
(Vòng xoáy không tên)

Fanciful rain and sunshine, clouds, smoke
Inaction does not care at all
Is there war without gunfire?
People squeezed…
in silence only?

Silent pain
wound in the breast
Forest dream
call friends late at night
A blanket is also given to teammates
What do you wear when without me?

The chaotic war ends with a win – lose?
Flashing the night market
Cheating the day market
Fake or real
Gold, imitation, mixed
Where do you stand in front of an unnamed vortex?

Verses of Buddha sitting in meditation
Why is there a fire inside?
A mute battle… no explosions
People return and knock on the door before dawn breaks.

Van Phuc, March 2013