Ten fingers drawn between the two shores of reality and illusion.

(Upon reading the poetry collection "10 Fingers of Autumn" by Vo Van Luyen, Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House, 2023)

Poet Vo Van Luyen, a member of the Vietnam Writers Association, released his poetry collection "10 Fingers of Autumn" in 2023, and this work was recently awarded the A prize in the literature category by the Quang Tri Provincial Association of Literature and Arts.

This poetry collection is a continuation and inheritance in the works of poet Vo Van Luyen, demonstrating the consistency in the writing style of a professional poet from Quang Tri. Interspersed among realistic poems are those leaning towards non-realism, showcasing the diversity and exploration in the author's artistic endeavors. The themes of the collection are also rich and varied. They may include memories of journeys and poetic perceptions of various places, or the personal reflections and philosophies of a writer deeply devoted to poetry and life.

Like the realistic poem "The Rain Reminds Me of My Longing for You," which is tender and affectionate like folk songs with a folk flavor, yet still finds a different way of expressing it: "After the scorching sun comes the pouring rain / Central Vietnam has silently endured all this time / The winter chills even the plow blade / The fresh green shoots are still full of ripe oranges... Not long ago, storms swept through / The old wounds haven't healed yet, reminding me / Waiting all night for silence / But why is heaven and earth so resentful of each other...?" "The winter chills even the plow blade" or "Waiting all night for silence" are subtle discoveries by the poet.

The poem "Lotus of Thượng Xá" begins with: "Lotus buds like the first blossoms of the full moon/No more singing folk songs/No more braided pigtails/The waves have already known the turbulent waves...". The first three lines have a folk song feel, but the last line is a modern poetic exploration, creating an unexpected association for the reader.

However, there are quite a few poems where surrealism overshadows realism; if realism exists at all, it appears merely as a pretext, a nail hammered into the wall to hang the poet's work. "Ten Fingers of Autumn" is an example: "...ten short and long fingers undulating illusions/the dream of a herd of cows/returning to the heart of the city/the ambition of the wind/dying in the fragrant meadow..." By the end of the poem, the poetic meaning is concentrated, blurred, and fragmented, appearing unclear, requiring a different field of association than usual, and even vague inferences from the suggestive lines: "ten blind fingers/black and white reversed characters/green river turns red sea/the sound of the flute suffocates memory/unexpected autumn."

From a different perspective, examining the form can also yield some interesting findings. For example, the writer's creative yearning is often expressed at night or after sleep, or even through insomnia, as many poems are titled: "Awake with the Birds' Song," "Awake," "Birds' Song in the Night," "Last Night," "Dreaming of Hue and You," "Night of the Spirit," "Sad as Leaves at Night," "Moonless Night, Longing for Mother," "Night No Longer Frivolous with the Blue Sky," "Dream," "Night Filled with Dreams," "Awake with the Birds' Song," "Dreaming of Birds' Song Knocking at the Door," "Lullaby for a Sleepless Night," "Bird's Dream," "Dreaming of Singing About a Sick Saigon," "Night Listening to the Rain," "Night Calling."

The image of night has become an artistic concept, a recurring symbol in this collection of poems. It is also the author's way of confronting his own being, delving into contemplation and wandering between the realms of reality and illusion, with both transformation and fragmentation, sometimes like psychoanalytic sleepwalking: "as if there is a sound of a clock turning, counting the rhythm of time / the nights are different now / restless sleep, misguided dreams / it's as if I am reflecting myself / someone said fear makes people cowardly / unable to lift their feet / but recklessly accompanying death / how can one bet in the darkness..." (Night is no longer frivolous with the blue sky).

Vo Van Luyen has maintained his poetic prowess through "10 Fingers of Autumn," and many of his works have become more mature and experimental. We hope he continues his poetic journey, remaining steadfast and resilient on his path in life and poetry.

Pham Xuan Dung

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/10-ngon-thu-giua-hai-bo-hu-thuc-nbsp/182070.htm