Vietnam Classic Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJHKELMNEOPQ PHRESTUVPPWXYCKVZVA2 VVVB2HC2JD2CE2F2G2A2 FH2I2B2J2K2L2YM2PN2O 2P2VA2Q2PR2VL2 YS2

The Vietnam classicA
was a seventy year old childB
with the face of a tired wise turtleC
Not from his own extraordinary fameD
did he sufferE
but from the factF
that he was in fearG
of the behavior of a red haired tomcatH
that followed after us with an ulterior motiveI
The cat reclined on a bookshelfJ
choosing a volume of Saint John Perse as his matH
The Vietnam classic kept a wary eyeK
when he tossed three pepper pods on a saucerE
though catsL
when sitting half starvedM
won't eat perhaps only peppersN
A prose writerE
but in essence a poetO
though afraid of not entertainingP
as one shouldQ
the classic never once fell to complainingP
thatH
there wasn't a spare crust in the houseR
He poured a dropp of whiskey in a glass of waterE
and over an alcohol lampS
with a rolling laughT
heated small pieces of cuttlefishU
a dried delicacy of warV
In him was the strikingP
deeply movingP
spiritual staying power of a BuddhistW
and on a bicyclist's trouser legX
was a forgotten clothespinY
Dismissing with a hand the flames of battleC
he spoke of Bo Tzu iK
BaudelaireV
and I thoughtZ
'What could be meanerV
than to destroy such a man 'A2
And fearV
pierced throughV
broke throughV
burned through meB2
the tomcatH
made a jumpC2
from the bookshelfJ
Burning hunger had flared up in himD2
The cat landed near a bottleC
and snatched a piece of cuttlefish in his teethE2
right from my forkF2
The host in Vietnamese screamedG2
'Scat 'A2
and dismayed by the tactless actF
spread his handsH2
visibly afraidI2
that I will consider it all unseemlyB2
I took the cat joylessly in my armsJ2
The cat himself was none too joyful about the theftK2
and I froze with numbnessL2
whenY
suddenly I sensedM2
he weighed nothingP
A red haired bit of nature and a warm grain of sandN2
trying to arch his back like a wheelO2
he was weightless in my palmsP2
like the fluff of a poplarV
'Forgive me 'A2
sadly glimmered in his pupilsQ2
And nothingP
I say in all conscienceR2
did I ever hold in my hands heavierV
than the weight of that terrifying weightlessnessL2
-
-
-
HanoiY
Trans lated by Albert C ToddS2

Yevgeny Yevtushenko



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Vietnam Classic poem by Yevgeny Yevtushenko


 
Best Poems of Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 4 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets