The sky inside an egg

Xuan Quynh was a leading female poet of the latter half of the 20th century. Her poetic instinct was very strong, and the source of her poetry was abundant.

Her lyrical poems such as "Waves," "Boat and Sea," and "Love Poem at the End of Autumn"... have stood the test of time, holding a special place in the hearts of poetry lovers.

"Boat and Sea" and "Love Poem at the End of Autumn," set to music by composer Phan Huynh Dieu and successfully performed by many singers, have become timeless songs. She was posthumously awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts in 2001 and the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in 2017.

During her lifetime, in addition to writing for adults, she also wrote seven works (both poetry and prose) for children, including "The Sky Inside an Egg," her most outstanding collection of poems, and one of the two works that served as the basis for posthumously awarding her the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts eight years ago.

It's no exaggeration to say that "The sky in an egg" is a strange metaphor, similar to the later expression " The world in the palm of your hand," sounding illogical but perfectly logical in poetry. These are stories, intimate and simple yet profound confessions, written on the foundation of love for children. In other words: it is this love, maternal affection, and its pervasive influence that create the irreplaceable power in Xuan Quynh's poetry.

First of all, the imagery in her poetry is strangely beautiful, vivid, and pure: “Spring brings flocks of birds / A thousand voices singing as clear as water / The grass, having fallen asleep the night before, / Shines brightly in the green” (“What remains for spring?”), “The sound of chickens at noon / Brings so much happiness / At night, I dream / A sleep as rosy as an egg” (“The Sound of Chickens at Noon”).

Later, her poetry was beautiful in its way of speaking and thinking: “Daytime is made of sunshine / Green is made of trees / Chili peppers are made of spiciness... / Children are made of love / Of father and mother / Of grandfather and grandmother...” (“Explanation”). In “Explanation,” there are four lines: “Rivers need vastness / The sea has existed since then / When children learn to walk / Roads have existed since then,” rich in philosophy and imagery, expressing the relationship between the great and the origin.

"The river needs to reach the vastness / The sea has existed since time immemorial" : This suggests that the river must have a yearning for the vastness to reach the sea. This is like an inevitable journey from small to immense. The sea has existed since time immemorial, as an eternal destination, a symbol of wholeness.

"When children learn to walk / Roads have existed since that day" : A simple yet profound analogy. Roads not only existed before, but seem to be born from the very first steps of humankind. Individual journeys create paths imbued with humanistic values. The poem speaks of the beginning and the growth of things and people, using simple images that are deeply rooted in human philosophy.

The two lines, "Goodness that is given away / Becomes even more good" ("Mí's Goodness"), evoke a profound philosophy about selflessness and the value of kindness. Goodness itself is a valuable quality, but when it is "given away"—that is, shared and offered to others—its value increases, multiplies, and becomes "even more good." The poem serves as a message that kindness and compassion are only truly complete when given away, and morality lies not in keeping things hidden, but in acts of sharing.

The poem "I Love My Mother" shows that Xuan Quynh deeply understood the psychology and behavior of children. After comparing the love for one's mother to the sky, to Hanoi , to school, and realizing that these things are too vast and somewhat distant, the child suddenly expresses a delightful feeling unique to childhood. The poem discovers the unusual in the ordinariness of life when the child innocently says: "Ah, Mother, there's a cricket / Always in my matchbox / Open it and I'll see it right away / I love you as much as the cricket."

This is also the unexpected ending of "I Love You, Mom".

Xuan Quynh's poetry does not imitate or mimic children. In her poems, she often "transforms herself," speaking in the language of children, accompanying them in the most sincere and honest way. That is why her poetry has such a powerful impact on children.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bau-troi-trong-qua-trung-704115.html