Poems from Captured Documents: A Bilingual Edition

by Thanh T. Nguyen (Translator), Bruce Weigl (Translator)

These poems were written in journals and notebooks by ordinary soldiers who fought against American forces in Vietnam. The format of this edition is bilingual to enable both Vietnamese and American readers to appreciate these documents.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Weigl, one of the translators of this collection, wrote "The effect of this poetry is to humanize the soldiers who fought on the side of the revolution ... to help dispel the stereotypes created by the United States military and the American media during and after the American war in Vietnam" (p. xiii). Thanh T. Nguyen, the other translator, writes "open communication and the development of mutual understanding and respect are among the first steps toward healing for all" (p. 63).

This poems achieve that. As I read, I could imagine the soldiers who write these poems, just like soldiers in so many wars, writing of home, of family, of what they've left behind, of friends with them, of friends they've lost, of hope for an uncertain future.

Here is a stanza of the poem "A Young Man's Recollection" by Ky Niem Thanh Dang that particularly touched me.

"Like regret that moment of separation stays in our hearts.
The moon had nothing to show but its closed eyes.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, there were no words,
And now only this poem to remember our friendship."

[Cesar Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Translated poetry is tricky, themes of war, politics, country and land are abundant. I was only struck by the poems Meeting and Depature.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

War has a way of dehumanizing people by labeling them as "the enemy." This book goes a great way in reworking those deep-rooted prejudices lurking in our minds. These enemy fighters, members of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, were men just like the rest of us. They wrote about the girls they were in love with and ached for, the homes and picturesque surrounding countryside they hoped had survived incessant American bombing, the fear of dying and of killing, and undying patriotism for their cause. They were poets. They wrote about the universal human experiences, shedding light on the psyche of soldiers and victims of war everywhere.

[Ross Ritchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful look at the opposition's humanity and voice during the Vietnam War. We don't often think of the "others" outside of targets to hunt and acquire, but this collection breaks that mold. Well worth it, wish the collection was larger.

[Paul Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poems that share common heart themes of friend and foe- love and longing, duty and patriotism, and the longing for peace.