Poetry By Vo Thi Nhu Mai: Influential Vietnamese poet

Vo Thi Nhu Mai

WHAT THE SILENCE HOLDS

<Vo Thi Nhu Mai>

1/
A bird circles above the ruins
as if sketching a name, it once knew
but cannot pronounce.
 
The wind holds the walls upright
only long enough
for a child to pass through.
 
The silence is not absence
It is the weight of unasked questions
left at the door of every house.
 
Someone or no one
has taken the weapons
and buried them in a field
where no one remembers to search.
 
Before the first word
a shadow knelt.
 
It did not pray
It did not ask to stay
It simply pressed
its whole being
into the space
between heartbeats.

2/

The window was not broken
It just forgot
how to hold the light.
 
You asked me a question
with your back turned
something about staying
Or maybe abandon.
 
The clock kept time for a war
no one remembered starting.
 
And still you kept watering
a plant that never grew.
 
I folded my name into a paper shape
and set it afloat on the floorboards.
 
Somewhere under the house
a slow leak was learning
how to become a river.
 
There were footsteps upstairs
No one was home
Only the dust, and a song
that wouldn’t stop
forgetting its own melody.
 
If a silence opens its mouth, who listens?
If you survive, but your shadow doesn’t
what walks beside you?
 
There is no anthem for the unbroken
Only this: the hush before thunder
that no one calls a promise.
VO THI NHU MAI
 
http/vietnampoetry.wordpress.com
- Date of Birth: March 18, 1976
- Hometown: Quảng Trị, Vietnam
- Current Residence: Dianella, Western Australia, Australia
- Occupation: Primary school teacher in the public education system of Western Australia
- Education: Master’s in Education, Master Degree in Literature
- Roles: Poet, translator
- Work History:
- 1998-2003: English teacher at Ngô Quyền High School, Châu Đức, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu
- 2003-2010: postgraduate studies at Edith Cowan University (ECU), WA
- 2006-2016: Taught at Dryandra Primary School, WA
- 2016-present: Teaching at Maylands Primary School, WA
- 2015-2022: Volunteered at Hùng Vương Vietnamese School on weekends and successfully secured government funding for school activities twice.
 
teacher, poet, translator
As a primary school teacher with over twenty years of full-time teaching experience in Western Australia, following five years of teaching at a high school in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu.
In addition to being a poet with numerous published works, my poetry was selected for inclusion in a book as part of a 2023 English poetry competition in Western Australia, organized and curated by WAPOET.
Several of my poems have been set to music and performed across various districts within the country.
I am also an advocate for promoting the works of fellow artists, often designing, presenting, and writing prefaces for their literary collections.
I frequently present bilingual poetry readings at cultural festivals organized by the Vietnamese Women's Association in Western Australia.
 
Poetry Collections:

• Reflections on Poetry (Poetry, Women’s Publishing House, 2010)

• Beyond the Vast Ocean (Poetry, Literature Publishing House, 2011)

• The Fairy Tale Garden (Poetry, Writers' Association Publishing House, 2015)

• Let the Day Be Short (Poetry, Thuận Hóa Publishing House, 2022)

• Oh, that's true, I am waiting (Poetry, upcoming publication)

Vietnamese-English Translated Works Published in Recent Years:

• Bilingual Poetry of Võ Quê

• Bilingual Poetry of Nguyễn Thanh Kim (published in Romania)

• Bilingual Poetry of Nguyễn Quốc Học

• Bilingual Poetry of Vũ Thụy Nhung

• Bilingual Poetry of Trần Quang Đạo (published in Canada)

• Nhịp Điệu Việt The Rhythm of Vietnam, Bilingual Edition (Anthology of 307 poets from Vietnam and abroad)

• Bilingual Poetry of Hoài Thu

• Essays of Nguyễn Đức Tùng (upcoming publication)

 
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
 
My name is Như Mai, and I am currently employed full-time as a primary school teacher in Western Australia. I have a deep passion for literature and community engagement. Throughout my creative journey, I have gained rich and meaningful experiences in the literary field as well as in various charitable activities.
 
Literary Activities:
Translator:
I have translated numerous poems, an essay collection, and several short stories, contributing to bringing Vietnamese literature to an international audience.

Author:
I am the author of four poetry collections, where I express my emotions, reflections, and unique perspectives on life and love.

Literary Promotion:
I frequently promote my friends' poetry across various literary platforms, creating opportunities for outstanding works to gain wider recognition. I have also assisted many fellow writers in publishing their books, contributing to the development of our national literature.

Community Engagement: Volunteer Work

I have participated in volunteer teaching on weekends, helping Vietnamese or Australian children who are passionate about learning the Vietnamese language.
Personal Interests:

I enjoy taking walks and traveling to serene places rich in culture and education. These journeys not only help me relax but also serve as endless inspiration for my creative work.
Vision and Direction:

I firmly believe that literature is not only an art of language but also a bridge connecting people with emotions, the past with the present, and individuals with the community. My goal is to continue creating, translating, and promoting high literary values while actively participating in community activities to spread love and sharing.