I have never carried river water like a Vietnamese woman-
the long, bouncing pole, the heavey buckets at the ends,
Keeping them balanced, always careful not to spill.

I have never carried a load of firewood
or a nation upon my back like a Vietnamese woman.
I have never planted or harvested rice under the hot sun,
never held a family together with love, hard work,
and hope, like a Vietnamese woman.

I have never fought for my countrys freedom
with a baby strapped to my body,*
never won a battle with out firing a bullet,**
never indured imprisonment and torture,
or lost my husband and children because of war,
like a Vietnamese woman

I have never heard more anguished crying,
never heard more joyful laughter,
never seen a sadder frown
or a more easy, happy smile
than a Vietnamese womans-
a smile so radiant it can enlighten her world
in its darkest moments.

*This line refers to the Ba Trung sisters,who in the first century fought for
Vietnamese indepence against the Chinese with their babies strapped to their boies.

**In Lady Bortons book, After Sorrow, she mentions a battle in the Delta in
which "Long - haired soldiers"(females) used smoke to confuse the enemy and
"rifles"cared out of wood to capture them.
No shots were fired.

This is out of Don Blackburns book All You Have Given.
Meditations on War, Peace and Reconcilation.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2016 03:02PM by riverhousebill.