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Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1882) was a risqué Vietnamese poetess. Her verse — replete with nods, winks, double entendres and sexual innuendo — was shocking to many readers of her day and will doubtless remain so to some of ours. Huong has been described as "the candid voice of a liberal female in a male-dominated society." Her output has been called "coy, often bawdy lyrics." More information about the poet follows these English translations of her poems.

Ốc Nhồi ("The Snail")
by Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1882)
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

You said that or I thought you said that or I thought you said that
Or was it you said this and not that
I thought I'd figured it out but that wasn't it
Then what was it if it wasn't this or that
The more I think I have things figured out
The more I always seem to get it wrong
So I'll just throw my hands up in frustration
I'll never figure this one out and so who cares
It would be easier to figure out that age old question
Remember it...the secret of Life.