By Lê Vĩnh Tài, translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm
March 18th, 2022
…
drink the fiery spirit burning your hand
snowy meadows bullets flying erasing forests
suddenly losing one’s nation for no reason
welcoming tanks with shoulder rockets
.
there’s also a sea of people on the other side
they’re fighting for a spare roll of toilet paper
confusion at the supermarkets of the enemy
the artillery has arrived and still long is autumn
.
drink and drink to end up starting all over again
twice there’s has been a tragedy at the children’s hospital
square round and crooked bricks falling
broken mothers and bubs in their arms running
.
drink away the tears like rain
Nato opening up to soothe your sorrow my love
drink to the rhythm of cannons through the night
as we did in our yellow skin stayed up once upon a time
—–
uống đi rượu lửa phỏng tay
cánh đồng tuyết trắng đạn bay xoá rừng
tự dưng mất nước lưng chừng
vác vai tên lửa nỗi mừng xe tăng
.
bên kia cũng một biển người
người ta giành cuộn giấy chùi còn dư
phân vân siêu thị nghịch thù
pháo binh đã tới mùa thu còn dài
.
uống đi về lại sơ khai
bệnh viện nhà trẻ đã hai lần buồn
gạch rơi viên méo viên tròn
mẹ ôm em bé thân mòn đong đưa
.
uống đi nước mắt như mưa
nato mở rộng cho vừa lòng em
uống đi đại bác ru đêm
chúng ta từng thức những đêm da vàng
6 replies on “Lê Vĩnh Tài | AN EPIC ODE OF UKRAINE – 38/43 – drink the fiery drink burning your hand”
Wow, this is powerful and beautifully expressive. The delivery is so keenly done. As if this is the norm. Thank you for both this beautiful poem and the translation. Blessings to you and your families. ❤️🤗🦋
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Thank you Joni, bless you dear. Tram.
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You are so welcome. It was a pleasure and honor to read such surreal words. Uncannily beautiful yet one wonders will the sorrow ever stop. ❤️
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❤
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History and suffering repeat themselves. The irony depicted in this piece is well received.
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I hope so 🙂
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