The deserted tower
Seems to grow suddenly from the earth
Hairy – gloomy – threatening.

The deserted tower
Rises in the ghostly evening sky
As a tumour on the smooth skin
Of the green tapestry of jungle.

The deserted tower
Abruptly pushes me face-to-face
With the past
Swarming with black bats.

The deserted tower
Abandoned by people – forgotten by history
Is only remembered by the steps of time.

The deserted tower
As familiar – as stranger
Is the soul of ancient people touching the clotted bloodstream.

Some day
When all of a sudden the woodcutter remembers
The smuggler remembers – the historian remembers
The soul of the tower has flown far away.

Translated by Nguyen Tien Van.