The Institute of Literature and the Vietnam Writers Association organized a seminar on the poetry of Nguyen Tien Thanh, a poetic voice that is still causing controversy - Photo: T. DIEU
On October 21st, the Institute of Literature and the Vietnam Writers Association organized a private seminar on the poetry of Nguyen Tien Thanh - a journalist who recently reappeared in the poetry scene and was awarded the Vietnam Writers Association Prize in 2024 for his collection "Viễn ca" (Faraway Songs).
The seminar on the topic "Nguyen Tien Thanh's Poetry in the Evolution of Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry" attracted many critics from different generations, as well as writers and poets. However, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - president of the Vietnam Writers Association - affirmed that Nguyen Tien Thanh is not a phenomenon.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Thieu (right) assessed Nguyen Tien Thanh (left) as a romantic poet, an original poet - Photo: T. DIEU
Is Nguyen Tien Thanh a phenomenon or not?
Mr. Thieu called Nguyen Tien Thanh a romantic poet.
He said that society is increasingly lacking romantic poets, while poets are more calculating and more plan-oriented. But Nguyen Tien Thanh still maintains himself as an "original poet," creating his own voice in the poetry world, his verses restoring the bright and pure beauty of nature.
Critic Pham Xuan Nguyen disagrees with Nguyen Quang Thieu's assertion that Nguyen Tien Thanh is not a phenomenon. According to Nguyen, Nguyen Tien Thanh is indeed a phenomenon.
Because Nguyen Tien Thanh has only reappeared in the poetry scene three years ago with four consecutive poetry collections, yet he has already been awarded the Vietnam Writers Association Prize in 2024, and this year the Vietnam Writers Association and the Institute of Literature organized a seminar with a very significant title.
"Many poets spend their whole lives writing poetry but don't have the honor of having two national-level organizations hold poetry workshops like this," Mr. Nguyen said.
Regarding Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry, Mr. Nguyen believes the poet "needs to break free from the Me Tri style."
Mr. Nguyen recounted a time when the Me Tri dormitory of the University of Hanoi was buzzing with student poetry nights, featuring brilliant names like Hoang Nhuan Cam, Nguyen Phan Hach, Truong Nam Huong, Do Trung Quan, Tran Hoa Binh …
The student-style verses, the grand pronouncements, the "chaotic writing style" (the title of a poem and a collection of poems by Nguyen Tien Thanh) full of exuberance, were very appealing to the student generation at that time.
But that kind of poetry needs to move on when its "time" has passed. Nguyen Tien Thanh, however, remains immersed in that "Me Tri style," especially his poetry collection , "Nameless Afternoon," which stands like a stain of ink on life.
The poetry collection is like a reflection on the past; Nguyen Tien Thanh needs to break free from that "Me Tri style." Mr. Nguyen said he wanted Nguyen Tien Thanh to be able to do like the poem by Hoang Nhuan Cam - one of the leading figures of the Me Tri student poetry style: "What is unreal about the old poem anymore? / It flashes through the soul like a firework... That spring under the red earth flowers / I packed my backpack, silently burning my poems..."
"I hope poet Nguyen Tien Thanh will burn his own poems," Mr. Nguyen said.
Regarding the central question of the symposium: where does Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry stand within the paradigm of contemporary Vietnamese poetry? Critic Do Hoai Nam assessed it as "in the middle." Specifically, it's somewhere between innovation and classicism. His poetry is neither new nor old.
Responding to critics' comments, Mr. Nguyen Tien Thanh acknowledged that his poetry still has the voice of a student, still follows the "Me Tri style," and that he is not trying to change it; he will continue to write truthfully from his heart.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mong-nguyen-tien-thanh-dot-tho-minh-20251021213401013.htm
Comment (0)