Poetry night "Tu Thuy"!

Having been a poet for nearly 50 years, I've attended many poetry readings and performances, but I've never been so impressed by a poetry night as I was by this one.

That was the poetry night "Poems That Shape the Nation ," directed by the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, and organized by the Army Literature and Arts Magazine in collaboration with the Institute for Oriental Development Studies. This was also one of the cultural and artistic activities celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd.

1. During my time as a journalist and even now, I have frequently been involved in building temples, locating graves, and organizing cultural and spiritual events related to fallen soldiers. My personal experience is that whenever we begin construction or inaugurate these spiritual projects, dark clouds often gather, and heavy rain pours down. On those occasions, whether in the cloud-covered peaks of the Truong Son Mountains or amidst the flooded Dong Thap Muoi region , we always set up altars to the heroic martyrs.

Before the altar, we offered our prayers to the heroes, asking that when the opening ceremony and live broadcast began, the rain would stop so that our compatriots nationwide and our people abroad could fully witness this meaningful cultural event honoring those who contributed to the country. And almost every time, just as the program was about to begin, the rain would stop. I remember it was during the inauguration of the martyrs' shrines in Long Khot (Tay Ninh province); Long Dai (Quang Binh province), Ka Rong (Quang Tri province); Ngoc Hoi ( Quang Ngai province); Rung Sac (Ho Chi Minh City)...

In mid-August, just before the opening of the poetry night "Poems That Shape the Image of the Nation" (script: People's Artist Cao Huu Nhac; director: People's Artist Huu Tu), held on the Tuy Hoa beach (Dak Lak province), near Vung Ro Bay - where more than half a century ago the "ships without numbers" supporting the revolution in the South docked - a torrential downpour began. The heavy rain made those organizing the program anxious; if the rain continued, the poetry night was at risk of being canceled.

Colonel and writer Nguyen Binh Phuong, Editor-in-Chief of the Army Literature and Arts Magazine, and Colonel and writer Trinh Quang Phu, Director of the Oriental Development Research Institute, the organizers of this event, couldn't help but feel anxious. Writer Nguyen Binh Phuong said, as if trying to reassure himself: "Rain and sunshine are the work of heaven / Tears shed for a friend are the work of people today…".

The author and students from Phu Yen University at the poetry night.

Following my usual routine, I stood before the sea and prayed to the heroes: "Comrades, please support us, so that the rain will stop, so that our comrades and fellow citizens can enjoy this poetry night in remembrance of you, the outstanding sons and daughters who sacrificed for the Fatherland, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's reading of the Declaration of Independence." Strangely enough, at exactly 8 PM, when the live program began, the rain stopped, the wind ceased its fierce onslaught, and only the gentle murmur of the waves remained, like the words of the ancients.

2. That poetry night was deeply moving; the verses touched the hearts and brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience. For nearly two hours, renowned artists such as People's Artist Tu Long, People's Artist Hong Hanh, and artists from the Sao Bien Art Troupe... presented to the viewers poignant poems that have stood the test of time by poets of the Ho Chi Minh era such as To Huu, Nguyen Dinh Thi, Chinh Huu, Huu Loan, Huynh Van Nghe, Nguyen Khoa Diem, Pham Tien Duat, Nguyen My, Nguyen Duc Mau…

A student from Phu Yen University told me tearfully, "I've read these poems before, but today, in this setting, listening to them again, I understand even more deeply the value of independence and freedom that our ancestors sacrificed and dedicated so much to achieve. I feel even more strongly the path we will continue to follow, the path that President Ho Chi Minh and our predecessors chose."

As the poetry night drew to a close, we—soldiers of a bygone era, artists, and audience members—gathered together, reading new poems aloud and sharing stories of our memories. I turned to talk to Colonel Trinh Quang Phu, a writer who contributed to making the poetry night a success, suggesting that it should be called the "Four Waters" poetry night.

The first element was the poetry reading held right next to Vung Ro Bay, a place steeped in history. The second element was the stage designed on a crescent-shaped lake, reminiscent of how ancient poets would gather to admire the moon and recite poetry. The third element was the "rain in the forest and storm at sea" before the show began, which, while causing some anxiety, also helped to dispel the oppressive heat and clear the sky. And the fourth element was the tears of both performers and audience as the timeless poems evoked heroic and glorious memories, steeped in the blood and bones of generations.

Upon hearing that, People's Artist Tu Long, who had performed the poem "Soul Soaring to Become the National Spirit" during the poetry night, spontaneously began reciting verses he had just performed on stage—verses that somehow perfectly suited the atmosphere of the night, where the waves of Tuy Hoa were murmuring outside: "Tears of the sky or tears of the living? / Echoes from the temple, the sound of bells and drums / And my comrades chatting all night long…".

The "Four Waters" poetry night was truly sacred!

TRAN THE TUYEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dem-tho-tu-thuy-post809889.html