Poem written on March 8

In my writing career, there is an event on March 8 that has haunted me for many years. I knew a woman named Hong, who lived in the Bac Lung tin mine in Tuyen Quang province. Her life was very difficult. Her life and her hardships served as a model for me to write a story.

She was a beautiful woman but infertile. She only discovered this after many years of marriage without having children. Her husband worked in the tin mine, and then luckily he was sent to work abroad in Russia. During his years abroad, he had an affair with a girl who was also sent to work abroad. When he found out that Ms. Hong could not have children, her husband tried every way to abandon her, then sought a divorce.

When the couple separated, the old house in the countryside was named after her husband. Ironically, the money to buy the house was paid by her. When they divorced, the court decided to divide the property in half, but when the law was enforced, the husband refused to give her any property. After that, he married another woman and had children in the house that was her sweat and effort.

When Decree 176 was issued, which allowed workers and civil servants to quit their jobs when the company faced difficulties and reduced production, Ms. Hong was forced to quit her job. She had to return to her hometown, but when she returned home, she had no house or land. She asked the mine leaders to let her stay in a dormitory and sell guava juice to make a living. Occasionally, some men would come by, but after learning that she could not have children, they quietly left. She became miserable. One time, on March 8, the mine celebrated International Women's Day very happily and she was hired to cook for the holiday. At that time, she had quit her job at the mine, so on that March 8, she was not invited to attend the women's event. After cooking for the festival, I saw her quietly leave in a torn hat.

That evening, I passed by a coffee shop and saw her sitting there crying instead of selling anything. That night, I was so moved that I wrote a poem called "Written on March 8th" but then I thought the title of the poem was not suitable for March 8th so I renamed it "The Woman in the Kitchen".

My poem was published in the newspaper, but then people forgot about the fate of a female miner.

But by chance, I was later promoted to be the mine director. Ms. Hong applied to transfer the apartment she was living in. I discussed Ms. Hong's situation with the mine union and the mine union agreed to give her that room. She was very happy.

THE WOMAN IN THE KITCHEN

March 8
Just fun
Sing and laugh
Pretty
Ao dai with colorful flowers
Son wishes daughter:
Young
Pretty
Equality
Happy
Men wish women:
Less disadvantaged
Not resigned...
Lenient...
Quantity...

There is a woman in the kitchen.
She was abandoned by her husband.
Because forever no children
She quietly cooks for hire for the festival.

Party over
The dishes are on the floor.
She left quietly.
As if not hearing
Who laughs?
Who sings?
As if not seen
who is beautiful
who is beautiful
As if not knowing
Today is March 8th.