Why don't you love me as much as them?
Let's go!
Stay here. He'll be back.
Come in!
Have a seat.
I just stopped by.
They were wondering where you were.
I've had it a long time.
Now I have to sell it.
Do you know what this is?
It's the AK-47.
A famous singer.
Have you heard her songs?
No!
Then listen. Basic notes.
And here's her song.
Little sister, Hanoi, old streets.
You're all that's left me, orchid scent.
You're all that's left me,
alstonia flower.
Rain whispering down deserted streets.
Waiting for a woman, windswept hair, tender shoulders.
You're all that's left me, winter tree.
You're all that's left me, icy abandoned street.
Slip of winter moon.
Old abode where the voice of a piano echoes.
Late into the night a bell still chimes.
You're all that's left me, color of time.
The evening fades, your hair flutters.
Evanescent.
The poet wanders in vain through the streets.
Suddenly realizing he has lost his way.
You're all that's left me, old streets covered in moss.
Every creaky old rooftop.
In my topsy-turvy memory.
Floating over the waves of West Lake.
Suddenly twilight has fallen. When it fell, I don't know.
You're all that's left me, orphaned winter tree.
Stop or I'll break the vase.
I think I'm pregnant.
Who's the father?
Is that a betel palm flower?
What's inside?
I don't know.
It's the first time.
But you looked for it all day.
Will you take me to the countryside?
What are you carrying?
Pork.
Take that off.
Where does this come from?
From Slaughterhouse 43.
Listen carefully. I'm going to pierce the skin.
If I find nothing, I'll give you a pass.
Father!
I dreamt about your death, Father.
You died a second time, to save me.
This morning, I feel strangely calm
as if I'm living in your body
in your silhouette your walk, your gestures.
These bony fingers this rough hand.
Is it yours or mine?
I feel your muscles flex in my arms.
This skin, it's yours burnt, toughened
defying the heat, the cold, the years.
These veins, you called them the paths of life.
Now, I understand.
I need to ask a favor.
I've always obeyed you.
Now I'm afraid.
Here's the money you gave me.
If it's not enough.
Let me take another cyclo.
I'll pay you back bit by bit.
Old man, where are you?
What did I say about the paint?
Remember, you old bastard?
This is a pistol.
Here's the safety catch.
Now you can shoot.
Now it's locked.
You just load and shoot!
From behind
like this.
From the side, like that.
Always two shots. Understand?
Don't throw away the gun. No one will come near you.
Leave slowly, once you're outside, run
toward your gun hand.
At the bridge
throw the gun in the stream and disappear into the crowd.
Don't worry, it's worse with a knife.
If you're nervous, take these pills.
Here's two. Try one.
It's great! You won't be afraid of anybody.
Take the second, before you go to work.
Just one at a time or you flip out. Understand?
Dawn in my soul.
A bit of sun for each home.
A bit of light for everyone.
Under the canopy, a leaf trembles.
And the dew remembers the clouds.
And the earth exhales a huge wind.
And life shivers, shivers.
Kite of my childhood.
Fragile hope hanging in the sky.
Hearts open, human abodes.
In a world where no one is excluded.
No, don't break it!
Bastard! She was a virgin!
He said he didn't know.
He suggests we forget about it.
He shelled out 600 dollars.
That's more than for a virgin.
He said the cuts weren't his fault.
A taste of dust
longan peel
stolen.
A hand
warm
washes my face.
Papa.
Green glow
of live shrimp.
The market closes
mama comes home.
Cold rice
punished...
in secret, at night.
Mama feeds me.
Stifling heat
of searing afternoons
stench of rotten starfruit.
In the rain.
I shiver
fried fish
rice gruel.
Lemon leaves
grapefruit rind
ivory-colored water
my brown skin.
Fish face!
What did I say?
Why do you love paint so much?
Where did you find this color?
Our family doesn't use it.
Come and eat!
Invite the lady to eat with us.
Wake up! Are you awake?
Listen...
Yesterday, you screwed up.
Mr. Lullaby should have rocked you.
But someone up there spared you.
It's sticky, I'll help you.
The year of the Pig begins today.
I wish you peace
health
a normal life, like everyone else.
We won't meet again.
When you go, leave the door open.
My little one...he's dead.
Oh, God!
Why?
Yesterday, the cat came back.
We thought he was dead.
He's even more handsome than before
so handsome, nobody recognized him.
I remember my father right before he died.
It was a Sunday
the only day he took a nap at home.
The cat was sleeping in the sun.
A gash across his face.
My father slept
swinging his leg.
I was a child. I remember watching my father's knee, for a long time.