Surprisingly, actress Hoang Cuc is also a poet.

People's Artist Hoang Cuc at the launch of her epic poem collection 'Cuc' - Photo: T. DIEU

At the launch ceremony of People's Artist Hoang Cuc's epic poem collection " Cuc" in Hanoi on the evening of June 2nd, many people expressed surprise at Hoang Cuc being both an artist and a poet.

For a long time, the public has known Hoang Cuc as a beautiful and talented actress, as well as someone who has overcome illness, lives optimistically, and is full of energy and dedication to her work.

Some of the artist's Facebook friends only recently learned that Hoang Cuc has long been writing poetry and prose.

A few years ago, she made her literary debut with fourth prize in a short story competition on the theme of Vietnamese villages in the era of integration , and several collections of poems were published in the spring issue of a newspaper.

The epic poem "Chrysanthemum 's Unsmooth Life" tells the story of Hoang Cuc.

Speaking at the launch of her epic poem collection, the young female poet – the main character – could only express her heartfelt gratitude for the immense happiness she received from her friends today.

She admitted that her first work was just clumsy writing, but "it was the turbulent river of her life."

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu also shared this sentiment. He said that the epic poem "Cuc" is her most honest voice, the most complete and comprehensive record of her life, revealing everything about her inner self that she had to live in silence for so long.

"That epic poem is a dream, a delirium, a fear, a despair..."

But the poems gradually reveal all that is darkness within her through the profound light of her soul.

"And in the end, the reader sees her soaring in the beauty of life and the beauty of poetry," poet Nguyen Quang Thieu said about the epic poem "Chrysanthemum."

After reading the last line of the epic poem, he quietly called Hoang Cuc a poet, with verses full of empathy and haunting imagery.

He said he had read a lot of poetry and thought that Hoang Cuc had forged her own path.

He thanked Hoang Cuc for offering poetry a path, perhaps a very vague, very small path, but a new path for Vietnamese poetry.

The epic poem "Cúc" is like an autobiography in verse by Hoàng Cúc - Archival photo.

A big surprise about Hoang Cuc

For literary critic Do Anh Vu, the epic poem "Chrysanthemum" was a big surprise. It is rare to see an author in the modern Vietnamese poetry scene publish an epic poem as their first poetry collection.

Because epic poetry demands a powerful writing style, a strong narrative, a story filled with countless details and events. These details and events must then be visualized through poetic language.

Literary critic Pham Xuan Nguyen said he wasn't surprised that Hoang Cuc wrote poetry. He explained that years ago, poet Hoang Nhuan Cam had boasted that Hoang Cuc wrote poetry and that her poems were quite good.

But he was still surprised by Hoang Cuc when he read the epic poem "Cuc" - a narrative work in verse with masterful poetic artistry in many sections.

The epic poem 'Chrysanthemum' by artist Hoang Cuc - Photo: T. DIEU

Regarding the epic poem, according to Do Anh Vu, it can be considered a poetic autobiography of Hoang Cuc.

The author shares many stories, feelings, and innermost thoughts with the reader, spread over a long period, from childhood and adolescence to later years.

Cúc's poetic language is free-flowing, natural, and flexible in form. Sometimes it's free verse, sometimes it's divided into seven-syllable stanzas, sometimes it's six-eight syllable verse, and sometimes it's five-syllable verse.

Throughout the epic poem, readers can easily find impressive verses, beautiful stanzas, and moving lines.

For example, when the author writes about his mother:

My mother's presence is no longer on the empty porch.

The courtyard was covered with a carpet of yellow petals.

The narrow alleyway stirred, casting shadows in the sunlight.

The pair of doves also braved the strong winds of the mountains .

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bat-ngo-voi-nu-nghe-si-hoang-cuc-la-thi-si-cuc-20240602215309261.htm