'The soil nurtures fragrant drops' for those who compose lục bát verses.

"The Land That Nurtures Fragrant Drops" is the latest poetry collection by poet Trieu Kim Loan, a figure in Vietnamese poetry who is gradually becoming familiar to literary audiences nationwide.

"The Land That Nurtures Fragrant Drops" is the sixth work by poet Trieu Kim Loan, following the poetry collections "Silence," "Evening Reflections," "Green Aspirations," "Night Dialogue," and "Words Calling the Moon Season." Poet Trieu Kim Loan, whose real name is Trieu Thi Loan, has a younger sister, Trieu Thi Hue, who also writes poetry under the pen name Hue Trieu. Both sisters are members of the Vietnam Writers Association and live and write in Ho Chi Minh City.

Poet Trieu Kim Loan. Photo: Provided by the author.

Poet Trieu Kim Loan chose teaching as her life's mission. The joys and sorrows associated with the classroom shaped her kind and dreamy personality, leading her into the realm of poetry. Therefore, Trieu Kim Loan's poetry lacks the rough and edgy tone, instead leaning towards a gentle and caring style. Her preference for writing in the lục bát (six-eight syllable) meter, with its many lighthearted messages, is also understandable.

In her collection of poems, "The Land That Retains Fragrant Drops," Trieu Kim Loan's six-line verses are imbued with nostalgia, as she possesses a vast expanse of memories: "The lesson plan opens honestly / So many faces, both near and far." However, her experiences, "Having touched the riverbed, having once tilted the ferry," help her calmly confront the anxieties of "The days of misty rain have ended," leading to a journey of self-discovery in a more tormented and chaotic spiritual world : "Alone I search for myself / The verses are steeped in the bitter taste of falling drops in the evening."

Each poetic form demands a unique temperament from the writer. The six-eight verse form, seemingly easy, is actually difficult. It's easy to sing and rhyme, but difficult to let thoughts settle into deep contemplation. If the author becomes too engrossed in the rhythmic flow, the ideas will drift aimlessly into nothingness. Therefore, writing six-eight verse requires skillful wordplay and clear-headedness to gather emotions. On the other hand, six-eight verse offers a seemingly serious and disciplined framework to challenge the ability to expand the range of aesthetic vibrations in each pair of six-eights within the fourteen bustling characters. The bold decision to publish the entire six-eight verse collection, "Earth Nurturing Fragrant Drops," is a commendable achievement of the poet Trieu Kim Loan.

In "The Land That Retains Fragrant Drops," where does the strength of poet Trieu Kim Loan's six-eight meter lie? Without elaborate sentence breaks or complicated line separations, she leads her poetry with leisurely, unhurried steps, sometimes reminiscing about her distant homeland ("The midland sun chokes the rain and storms / I return, my heart aching with borrowed sorrow"), sometimes lamenting the loss of someone far away ("A drop of incense falls amidst the mist / My heart, like a bitter leaf, spills in the night"), and sometimes feeling pensive in solitude ("The night gently buttons my dress / The sparse window shyly glances in this direction").

Many authors, in their eagerness to innovate the six-eight verse form with its ever-changing, winding styles, often forget that the true charm of this form lies in its close connection between humanity and nature, like the breath of the seasons, like a lover's rendezvous. The six-eight verse form, already expansive, must be condensed to occupy the space where the fluffy clouds drift in the realm of longing. Poet Trieu Kim Loan was fortunate enough to encounter these trembling moments, resulting in interesting and evocative six-eight couplets, reflecting the turmoil of "A leaf fumbling on the doorstep / The full moon hasn't yet dawned, but the night mist has already blurred" or the shock of "Life's slope slips precariously / The dawn has just begun, but the evening storm has already arrived."

The complexities and entanglements of womanhood allow the poetic flow of Trieu Kim Loan's "Earth Retaining Fragrant Drops" to shift between lingering affection and agonizing regret. From the private, pensive moment, "I am now like a faded me / Sad waves are crashing, are you happy?", she silently prays for a shared understanding of the ebb and flow of life: "Life is empty - I cling to poetry / Please, heaven, grant me more seasons of gentle breezes." Therefore, in her poetry, the loss is soothed, "Carrying burdens at the end of the riverbank / A thin raincoat, leaves blown by the winter wind," while the suffering is also comforted, "The old wharf is half hidden by the boat / My dear, are you waiting for the moon to rise while you wash your clothes?"

The poetry collection "Earth Nurturing Fragrant Drops" was published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House. Photo: Publishing House.

No one can hide themselves from poetry. The portrait of poet Trieu Kim Loan is quite fully revealed in her poem "The Earth Nurtures Fragrant Drops," brimming with harmony and optimism: "I wish I could preserve the scent of betel nuts / So that the old green betel tray with its salty lime would return." Though often naive and trusting, and at other times thoughtful and contemplative, poetry still provides her with a peaceful anchor to understand life through its fragile yet enduring nuances: "Leading the rain through the winding road / Thanking life for rewarding the days."

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/dat-u-giot-thom-cho-nguoi-gieo-van-luc-bat-d812238.html