Inside Out & Back Again

by Thanhhà Lại

Whoever invented English must have loved snakes.

Green mats of grass in front of every house. Vast windows in front of sealed curtains. Cement lanes where no one walks. Big cars pass not often. Not a noise. Clean, quiet loneliness.

People living on others’ goodwill cannot afford political opinions.

the pity giver feels better, never the pity receiver.

I keep my day inside.

I’m furious, unable to explain I already learned fractions and how to purify river water. So this is what dumb feels like.