“Broken” by Du Thi Hoan

Du Thi Hoan

BROKEN

Whenever you pull out the desk drawer, you leave it open
Whenever you write, you never cap the pen
Oh my darling, you’re so absent-minded
My wild forest deer

Everything should have happened smoothly
We should have become husband and wife
If we hadn’t taken a chance
A chance like we took tonight
When after a peaceful time
Enjoying ourselves on a stone bench at the park
You didn’t button my shirt over my breasts

—Translated by Ho Anh Thai & Wayne Karlin

from Rattle #21, Summer 2004
Tribute to Vietnamese Poets

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