Paradox

by Ly Thai Phuong

Translated into English by Nguyen Thuy Hoa,
with revisions by John Liddy

Once being love sick
I sat playing with the wind
Suddenly realized the storm
Can bring back peace

Once being forgotten
Buried in sleepless nights
Realized that after bitterness
Would be sweeter

Once my hand let go
Coldly and didn’t look back
But the loneliness
Clung to the footsteps

Once I missed a heartbeat
Plunged into the wave
Realized that sunstroke
Made struggling for a lifetime

n Vietnam, saying “sunstroke” means you crush someone.