Meeting

Unknown North Vietnamese Soldier
Translated by Thanh T. Nguyen and Bruce Weigl

Last night, walking behind my unit under golden moonlight,
My rifle slung on my shoulder,
I met a peasant girl in Van.
Carrying two baskets of rice for the soldiers,
She crossed the bridge.

We met by chance
So I asked myself if such a love
Could ever be.
Shyly, she looked up at me.
Her dimpled cheeks made me love her, secretly.
Perhaps we would meet again.