In my eyes, there is a flat earth.

Released to readers in early 2026, the children's poetry collection "There's a Flat Earth in My Eyes" by author Ly Thang Long (Kim Dong Publishing House) offers perspectives on life that are both innocent and profound. Ly Thang Long is a young writer from the Literature Department of the Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association. He previously made an impression on readers with his short story collection "How Strange Puberty Is" (2023) and numerous works published in literary and artistic newspapers and magazines both within and outside the province.

This collection of 26 poems (illustrated by Vu Nghi) was composed by Ly Thang Long during his military service at the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command. The manuscript won the Cricket's Aspiration Award in 2025.

Throughout the poetry collection runs the theme of a "flat world " seen through the eyes of a child, where technology blurs geographical distances but also raises questions about human connection. Although written for children, the author does not shy away from contemporary issues such as patriotism, life ideals, climate change, and war… Through these, the work prompts much reflection on each individual's responsibility to the community.

Many poems impress with their evocative imagery and clear language, yet they contain profound philosophical depth. In the poem "When You Take Flight," the aspiration towards the future is expressed through the lines: "When you take flight / The sky belongs to you / The seagulls and the stars belong to you / Tonight belongs to you / And tomorrow also belongs to you / The country lies within your outstretched wings / Escaping the narrow runway / Conquering the horizon."

In "When I Grow Up," author Ly Thang Long reflects on the past, expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of previous generations: "When I grew up, the country was no longer at war / Only graves and nameless tombstones / Hidden in the light of the train station of the past...". Alongside this, love of nature and faith in good things are vividly expressed in the poem "Where You Have Walked": "Where your footprints are / From now on, sweet, fragrant fruits will sprout / On high branches / Flower buds open their eyes / Behind the clumps of grass / Crickets and bees practice playing their instruments / The joyful sounds celebrate your next step."

In the poem bearing the same title as the work, Ly Thang Long poses self-reflective questions about the world and humanity: "I keep asking myself / Which sky is the furthest / Where the world is flat in the depths of your eyes?" This is not only a perspective on the finitude of all things but also a reminder to preserve connection, love, and the responsibility to protect the planet.

Pure and profound, the poetry collection "There's a Flat Earth in My Eyes" has been and continues to contribute a fresh, emotionally rich voice to contemporary children's literature.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202603/co-mot-trai-dat-phang-trong-mat-em-82b1dbf/