by Vu Thanh Hoa

Translated by Hanoi Female Translators

Tried once to change habits
the phone was off
e-mail wasn’t opened
put the nostalgia in the locked suitcase
carry nothingness

Tried once to change habits
drink coffee anytime
liked
did not accept any appointments
disliked
yesterday’s promise suddenly became a joke…

Tried once to change habits
crying, crying
when people were carefree
laughed out loud
when people were eloquent
naked heart

Tried once to change habits
quietly met
an unknown person

a person
strange
but familiar

a person
named
peace

by Vu Thanh Hoa

falling into the night
slipping into the night
a shadow pretending to die

silence earth
secret moving seeds
the sky is as clear as a mirror
a whisper from somewhere world
how can know
who is crying
who is smiling
who pretends to be blind to be deaf
the blind love and hate, round real and fake
moon night moonless nigh
tomorrow is shining anyway
turn off the light
sleep
the dream is still awake
the darkness pretends to die
everyone pretends to die
I pretend to die
my heart is still alive for loving you

by Vu Thanh Hoa

is there any space left for me?
heaven is full of gods
hell is full of ghosts
the earth is countless of living people
the figures around the dead end
crashing each other, splashing pieces of souls
the pieces of souls suck the lonely sea
turning
turning
turning
in the middle of the lost sphere
bewildered verses
lying straight on the worn rails
wilted smiling lips
putting on lipstick on old wrinkles
pale tears
empty hugs
four corners of the platform are filled with masks
a train hasn’t left but missed the trip
is there any space left for me?

by Vu Thanh Hoa

We go to court today
How many witnesses?
They are indifferent and silent
Admitting us… to break up

We sit on two sides of a table
But so far away
When will we meet
Between the two banks of separation

Holding an orphaned pen
I bit my lips to write carefully
That bitter signature
To be apart forever

That day was gone forever
We made a promise together
I also sat
Signed carefully my name in pairs

Cloud flying away from the sky
Sunshine covering at the end of summer
We fell in love quickly
Raining for a whole lifetime of loneliness…