[18. Palpebral] (from 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem)


They’d rather you be inscrutable than difficult.

They’d rather you be impassive than original.

They’d rather you be enlightened than ambiguous.

They’d rather you be opaque than unpredictable.

They’d rather you be immaculate than ambitious.

They’d rather you be serene than volatile.

They’d rather you be deathless than carnal.

They’d rather you be beautiful than vital.

They’d rather you be resolute than self-doubting.

They’d rather you be authentic than inappropriate.

They’d rather you be unearthly than ordinary.

They’d rather you be exceptional than agnate.

They’d rather you be virtuous than moral.

They’d rather you be correct than slanged.

They’d yada you be yin than yada.

They’d yada you be yada than yang.

Nam Le

Nam Le is the author of The Boat, On David Malouf, and 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem. His work, which appears in modern classics series, has received major awards in Australia, America and Europe, and is widely translated and taught. His poetry has been published in Paris Review, Poetry, Granta and elsewhere.

More by Nam Le ›

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