From behind a Closed Window

By Ngo Tu Lap

Translated from Vietnamese by Martha Collins & Ngo Tu Lap

Vietnamese poet Ngo Tu Lap pens a desperate cry for comfort and certainty.

December 17, 2007

Vietnam Alienation Loneliness Grief

Is there, out there, a sky
Sunny or windy or humid with autumn
A sky at dawn, or a sunset sky?

Are there, out there, human faces
Strange or familiar
Happy or hurting
Friendly faces, or faces like beasts’?

Is there, out there, a nothingness
With no future, and no past?
Was it I who drew the curtains across the window?

Is there, out there, dark earth
That buries all flesh that once was beauty
That buries all glances, all shut lips?

Is there only this place?
Is there only this late afternoon?
Is there only myself?

Is there, out there, a sky
Sunny or windy or humid with autumn
A sky at dawn, or a sunset sky?

Are there, out there, human faces
Strange or familiar
Happy or hurting
Friendly faces, or faces like beasts’?

Is there, out there, a nothingness
With no future, and no past?
Was it I who drew the curtains across the window?

Is there, out there, dark earth
That buries all flesh that once was beauty
That buries all glances, all shut lips?

Is there only this place?
Is there only this late afternoon?
Is there only myself?

Ngo Tu Lap is the winner of seven literary prizes…

Martha Collins is the author of eight books of poetry,…