Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm | Dignity is a measure of your pride (90)

By Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

 

Dignity is a measure of your pride? 

My busy predisposition could not confine me 

to the walls of the room 

no matter the glimpses of the glorious South China Sea 

or lively metropolis. 

 

A diet of watery rice and a runaway gut 

hit with the curse of bleeding 

I planned an escape on the tarmac

 

A few steps onto the uneven footpath, 

flat on my stomach 

my dignity exploded across half a mile radius. 

 

The kindness of people helped me up 

while my pride lay forlorn on the concrete, 

alone I stood up and thanked them… 

 

Eo tròn mông tròn… 

tôi vẫn bước tới vôn vớt dành lại một tí tôi.

 

I hope I’ve managed a smile on your face