There was a fairy who asked a refugee, 

“What do you wish near the end of your life?”

I wish on waking up one late morning:

To see the terrace filled with bright sunshine

A window opening to the clear blue sky

Hearing the familiar sounds of birds chirping in the front yard

The city streets with the smell of new morning dust

The cool tree shades with glistening tamarind leaves 

At the coffee house, my colleagues and friends are waiting 

They’re enthusiatically chatting about this and that

Suddenly, I recall last night was so frightening

I had a terrible dream

In the dream, I saw my homeland broken and shattered

I journeyed on the road but keep on wandering, feeling bewildered

I dream of driving on the way to work

Hearing around me voices in Vietnamese

In the dusty and smoky city, I wish for the trees and grass

to grow a sparkling green across my country a dream of Peace

What do I want in this refugee life?

The fairy has just asked me for my wish

“Please let all the turbulent, shattering changes in my life

be wrapped into the nightmare of last night.”