A School Boy’s Apology

By Le Thanh Huan

If sometimes I fall asleep in a lecture

Or shout and scream as if alone

Please forgive me, please don’t be angry

For I have no place to play.

I’m growing up I want to be a sailor

I’m wishing for a giant arena, a stream
I feel like yelling my life is beginning

Every minute I want to hold tight to my dreams.

But the fires of war have shriveled my joys

At every step I see guns turned on me

At every word I hear the crash of steel

Not believing, not understanding I only stare.

The slaughter goes on and on,

Blood and bones and hatred all strained red.

People running from the front to look out for themselves

Cheating, lying, stabbing others in the back

Some of my friends have fallen.
No one knew, no one cared, they were dewdrops that’s all.

My home will be burnt to the ground

The way back cut off, partitioned...