VIETNAM Ế ế Official Mot o Độc lập – Tự do – Hạnh phúc 44
VIETNAM: THE LAND OF BLUE DRAGONS 45
THE CULTURE OF VIETNAM 46
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NOTABLE LITERATURES 49
TDhAe CUhGerisHhedTER Mother, I am eighteen this year and still without a husband. What, Mother, is your plan? The magpie brought two matchmakers and you threw them the challenge: not less than five full quan, five thousand areca nuts, five fat pigs, and five suits of clothes. Mother, I am twenty-three this year and still without a husband. What, Mother, dear, is your plan? The magpie brought two matchmakers and you threw them the challenge: not less than three full quan, three thousand areca nuts, three fat pigs, and three suits of clothes. Mother, I am thirty-two this year and still without a husband. What, Mother, darling, is your plan? The magpie brought two matchmakers and you threw them the challenge: not less than one full quan, one thousand areca nuts, one fat dog this time, and one suit of clothes. Mother, I am forty-three this year. Still without a husband. Mother, look, Mother, will you please just give me away? 50
Le Thanh Huan’s A SCHOOL BOY’S APOLOGY If sometimes I fall asleep in a lecture Or shout and scream as if alone Please forgive me, please don’t be angry For I have no place to play. I’m growing up I want to be a sailor I’m wishing for a giant arena, a stream I feel like yelling my life is beginning Every minute I want to hold tight to my dreams. But the fires of war have shriveled my joys At every step I see guns turned on me At every word I hear the crash of steel Not believing, not understanding I only stare. The slaughter goes on and on, Blood and bones and hatred all strained red. People running from the front to look out for themselves Cheating, lying, stabbing others in the back Some of my friends have fallen. No one knew, no one cared, they were dewdrops that’s all. My home will be burnt to the ground The way back cut off, partitioned… 51
INSIDE Submarines by Phan Nhien Hao| tr. Linh Dinh 52
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