What began as a routine deep clean of a well-loved sofa turned into an international mystery for one New Zealand couple, who uncovered a heartfelt secret hidden within the furniture's cushions.
The Decade-Old Sofa's Secret
Tautari Sanders had owned the second-hand settee for ten years after purchasing it from a friend who was moving overseas. During that time, the sofa served as a comfortable retreat in his New Zealand home, where he and his partner spent considerable time relaxing. It wasn't until recently that the pair decided to give the furniture its first thorough clean in a decade.
As they removed the covering, they made a baffling discovery. An odd message was scrawled on the internal cushion, alongside a name inscribed on another section of the settee. "We thought that was kind of strange," Tautari told Newsweek. "We were worried it was going to be a cry for help for someone in poor working conditions."
The Reddit Translation Mission
Knowing the sofa was manufactured in Vietnam but struggling to decipher the text even with translation applications, Tautari and his partner turned to the global community for help. They concluded the most sensible course of action would be to share a photograph of the text on Reddit. "We know it's a great place to source information from a large number of people globally," Tautari explained.
The response was swift and revealed something completely unexpected. Rather than a desperate plea, the message turned out to be a beautiful Vietnamese poem, likely penned by someone involved in crafting the furniture. The translated version reads:
That river still flows for thousand lives
Because in adversity, I had to leave you
I still miss you when you're far away
I miss your eyes and your smile
Understanding the Vietnamese Poetry
As Reddit users quickly clarified, the poem belongs to a well-known type of Vietnamese verse called "lục bát", which translates to "six-eight" - referring to the number of words on each line. Another user elaborated on the poetic form's structure: "The sixth word of the six-line should rhyme with the sixth of the eight-line, and the eighth/last word of the eight-line should rhyme with the 6th/last word of the next six-line."
Upon uncovering the real significance of the writing, Tautari felt immense relief. "We were relieved to find out it was some lovely poetry," he said. However, the reasoning behind why someone decided to inscribe the poem on a sofa remains puzzling. Tautari speculated: "We have no idea why they have written such a personalised, heartfelt message on something that would ultimately end up not ever being seen. Maybe practicing some poetry before sending it to his or her lover? Perhaps we will never know."
The discovery serves as a reminder that even the most ordinary household items can contain extraordinary stories, connecting people across continents and cultures through unexpected means.
