Inside Out & Back Again

by Thanhhà Lại

Mostly I wish I were still smart.

Where are you? Should we keep hoping?

Come home, come home and see how our children have grown.

It’s more difficult here than I imagined.

Chant, my child, Breathe in, peaceful mind. Breathe out, peaceful smile.

Chant, my daughter; your whispers will bloom and shelter you from words you need not hear.

Oh, my daughter, at times you have to fight, but preferably not with your fists.

Father won’t leave if we hold on to him. If you feel like crying, think

at least now we know. At least we no longer live in waiting.

Being stubborn

won’t make you fluent. Practicing will! The more mistakes you make, the more you’ll learn not to.