Nỗi sợ hãi của một người lần đầu đến Palestine • Bản dịch của Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Ngân

The fear of someone who comes to Palestine for the first time
For writer Huu Uoc

You can’t know
Behind the iron fence at the border
With the gun barrels
Looking out from the guard station
Is what waiting for you

All the paperwork would not ease your anxiety
All the promises are no use
When they want to pull you out of
The room full of fearful darkness

Finally you come
Stand on the land
Full of fear
As if the first time
You see the clouds flowing
As if the first time
You see the flowers bloom
As if the first time
You catch the eyes
Looking at you with friendliness
And see the smile
As if someone
Turn on the light
In the dark

But on the flight back home
Instead of fear
Of where you just left
Is the fear
Of where you’re going.