Telling the story of Widow's Island on Ba Be Lake.

Poet Duong Khau Luong

Poet Dương Khâu Luông, whose real name is Dương Văn Phong, hails from Bản Hon, Bành Trạch commune, Ba Bể district. A son of the Bắc Kạn mountains, he is known for his simple yet emotionally rich poems, imbued with love for his homeland and the people of the highlands. Throughout his years dedicated to education , he has devoted much of his passion to writing for children. " Telling Stories of the Widow's Island" is a book he has long cherished, a spiritual gift to the children and the beloved land of Ba Bể.

Touching the book with its eye-catching color printing, readers will be transported to the deep, mysterious blue space of Ba Be Lake – a place of majestic nature intertwined with ancient legends. Using simple, pure poetic language, the work unfolds a folk tale passed down through generations: A wild bull wandered into Nam Mau village, slaughtered by greedy villagers, except for a poor widow and her daughter who refused their share. When a heavy rain and strong wind brought disaster, only the mother and daughter miraculously escaped. Not stopping there, the widow bravely paddled a boat made of rice husks through the floodwaters to rescue the villagers. This image is depicted movingly by the author through simple verses, imbued with human compassion.

"Forget all the dangers."

She rows a boat made of rice husks.

Go and help innocent people.

Amidst a hundred thousand waves…”

With simple and relatable verses, the author brings to life the image of a poor woman full of compassion and selflessness. The narrative poem not only provides children with a touching story but also sows in their hearts the seeds of kindness, sharing, and a spirit of community.

"Before doing a kind deed"

Virtue and tolerance

Everyone can feel it in their heart.

Show more love to the widow.

And we made a promise to each other.

Do good deeds.

Building a small village

"May you always be well-fed, warm, and peaceful..."

A notable highlight of the book lies in the illustrations by artists Tran Ngoc Kien and Nong Thi Xoan. These vibrant, expressive color paintings enhance the book's appeal, helping young readers easily visualize the story and enjoy each page.

Sharing his thoughts on his new work, poet Duong Khau Luong smiled gently: "Ba Be is my homeland, where I was born and raised, where I've spent my whole life connected to the mountains, rivers, and fairy tales told by my mother and grandmother since childhood. The ancient stories about Widow's Island, about the clear and heartwarming Ba Be Lake, have been deeply imprinted in my memory, becoming the inspiration for this little collection of poems. I hope that through these simple, relatable verses, children will feel the beauty of their homeland – not only in its picturesque scenery but also in the kind and compassionate hearts of its people. I hope they will love the land they live on even more, and cherish the traditional cultural values passed down through these stories and pages. And most importantly, I hope this will be a small book that children can read, remember, and memorize a few verses of poetry. Because literature contributes to nurturing each person's soul..."

The collection of poems and stories, "Stories from Widow's Island, Ba Be Lake," is not only a work of art for children, but also a bridge that brings them closer to traditional values, evokes pride in local culture, and nurtures pure and compassionate souls through simple, everyday things.

Bich Phuong

Source: https://baobackan.vn/ke-chuyen-dao-ba-goa-ho-ba-be-post71359.html