“Self-portrait” by Phung Cung

Quan-Hoang Vuong

October 31, 2022

I loved Phung Cung’s poetry and memorized many of his poems written in Vietnamese. This poem, “Self-portrait”, has always been my favorite. It took me my whole courage to translate it into English. The translation was completed on September 23, 2022.

Once again, my co-author, Dr. Nancy K. Napier, gave her final touch on the translation today and told me the poem made her feel sad. Nancy’s feeling was also what I felt whenever reading this, so I believe this version is the best I can have. Therefore, I am pleased to introduce the poem in English to you all.

Self-portrait

I dip my finger
Drawing myself on a water plate.
A thousand times, I repeat
Till my finger hurts and the plate dries.
Will there be a time
when that face becomes mine?

—Phung Cung, Vietnamese poet (1928-1997); translated by Quan-Hoang Vuong.



*Special note: I am indebted to Dr. Nancy K. Napier for helping me finalize this translation.