In 1978, after leaving Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy, I traveled to Cham villages to collect folk stories and immerse myself in philosophy, particularly the work of German philosophers such as Nietzsche and Heidegger. The bilingual Cham-Vietnamese poems written during this period of my life highlight Cham teachings and philosophy.
Not a few friends have scolded me for wasting time on Cham poetry
is there even a trifling scarcity of readers? Will there be anyone to remember?
yet I want to squander my entire life on it
though there may only be around a quarter dozen people
though there may only be one person
or even if there’s not a single living soul!
(translated by Alec G. Schachner).

Di thun 1978, hadei di klāk thāng baic prong pak mưdin Bai Gōr, dahlak gam pôic tapuk xakarai gam nao tamư graup palei Cam dwah patōm kanưdha mưlang. Dôm kadha ariya dwa xap Cam thong Yôn dahlak cwak dalam wagtu nan.
Ôh njaup takīk yut bbwah di kau lihik tuk vag gêk ka ariya Cam
hu dôm urāng pôic? bloh dôm urāng hadar?
min kau takrư klāk ray kau ka pakāl dêh
brei nao yom hu dwa klau urāng
brei ka yom dōk tha urāng
hai ôh hu dōk thei pôic.