Digte fra Huè

Der er langt til Hue

Der er langt til Hue
med Reunification Express
fjernt lyser en pagode
før natten lukker alt

kun rytme,
stemmer og døsighed
flydt sammen
efter 30 timer

langt til Hue
også for Giap,
for Ho og
for Dung,
fra Dien Bien Phu
til Khe San,
Da Nang og
Nha Trang

forenet igen.

Pirates in South China Sea

Western pirates
first
from Opium wars
to Cochin-Chine

recently
in Tonkin Bay
for Hai Phong shelling
and Chinese too

in Ha Long waters
herenow no pirates
but sampans fishing
and maidens slim
fore thunderrain
came setting in

in trees diamonds
for pirates' chest.

Fuldmåne over Huè

I dammen
lotusblomster

måner i svøb
knejsende over
frøers gnækken
og den sølverne kvindesang
fra lyshvide ao dai

på månestråler

La rivière aux parfums

Sur le rivage
de la rivière aux parfums
proche de les rues carrés
et ombragés de Huè
un palais imperial
pour faire plaisir à la lune
et pour déclamer la poésie

chaque concubine
un flacon particulier
pour été reconnue
durant la nuit

sur le rivage
de la rivière aux parfums
l'esprit d'Indochine.

Ha Long Bay

Dragon seed
of islets spread
rocks in abundance
offering shelter
for eagle nest
and pirate cave

brimming light
in rolling water
layer upon layer
of rocky blue shades

if Guelin the sister
Ha Long is the brother.

Thirty-six streets

Thirty-six streets
you have
in old Ha Noi
from Red River dykes
to citadel,
from market
to Sword Lake

for silk
for rice
and for paper
Hang Bac
Hang Dao
Hang Gai

scarred only slightly
when bombs they fell
now kites are in the sky
soaring high

persistingly.

Hong Kong 30.06.97 or:
One Party - Two Hangovers or:
Chinese Freedom at Midnight, Half a Century following India's Midnight Hour

Sitting

on Star Ferry's upper deck
the Navy moving in the Strait
one last time

flag held high
beating the retreat
men in white
all lined up

Britannia's anchor waiting
for midnight hour to weigh
still waves to be ruled
when going home

for final chopping.

Rev. by Pierre Evald 02.09.1998