Poet and former American soldier launches poetry collection about Ho Guom Lake.

On the morning of June 2nd, in Hanoi, American poet Bruce Weigl launched his bilingual Vietnamese-English poetry collection "The Ecstasy of Ho Guom," translated by poet Tran Le Khanh. An art exhibition of the same name was also inaugurated on this occasion.

Having fought in the Vietnam War from 1967-1968, Bruce Weigl overcame the traumas of war to become a close friend of the Vietnamese people and country. Since 1988, he has frequently returned to Hanoi to write, translate, and find inspiration from Vietnamese culture.

Poet Bruce Weigl (seated in the middle) shares his thoughts at the book launch. Photo: HA GAM

Speaking at the launch event, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, President of the Vietnam Writers Association , said that Bruce Weigl's journey to Vietnam is a special story about the transformation of both people and art.

He shared: “Nearly 60 years ago, Bruce Weigl first came to Vietnam on a very long sea voyage. At that time, he was an American soldier carrying guns, bombs, Agent Orange, and the pain of war. But in his returns to Vietnam after 1975, he no longer carried weapons of mass destruction, but instead poems—poems about Vietnam and a deep love for this land.”

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, President of the Vietnam Writers Association, shared his thoughts at the book launch. Photo: HA GAM

According to poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, what is special about Bruce Weigl's poetry is that he doesn't describe Hanoi directly, but rather explores a new Hanoi from the most familiar things. He also highly appreciates Tran Le Khanh's translation for maintaining the clarity of the Vietnamese language while preserving the important characteristics of Bruce Weigl's poetry.

"It is thanks to this intersection that we are here today to once again rediscover our own Hanoi through the lens of another person," said poet Nguyen Quang Thieu.

An exhibition of paintings by Bruce Weigl. Photo: HA GAM

The 280-page poetry collection "The Enchantment of Ho Guom Lake," published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House, is the culmination of Bruce Weigl's experiences, observations, and reflections on Hanoi. According to the author, it is "a fleeting encounter with the souls of Hanoi," where past and present, tangible and intangible, blend together in a single emotional landscape.

Speaking at the book launch, Bruce Weigl shared that Hanoi and Vietnam were the greatest sources of inspiration for his poetry collection. He recounted that over the past 40 years, every time he returned to Vietnam, poetry seemed to find its way to him through strolls through the streets or hours spent in cafes.

“I want to share these poems with my Vietnamese friends and readers because they express my love for your country and its long-standing culture. I want to publish this collection of poems in Vietnam, because Vietnam nurtured these poems. They don't belong to me, they belong to Vietnam,” the poet expressed.

Bruce Weigl's art exhibition is inspired by Hanoi.

At the launch of the poetry collection, an art exhibition of the same name showcased many works inspired by Hanoi and Bruce Weigl's creative journey.

Bruce Weigl was born in 1948 in Ohio, USA. He is the author of 14 volumes of poetry, a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, and has won numerous prestigious literary awards.

VINH XUAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nha-tho-cuu-binh-my-ra-mat-tap-tho-ve-ho-guom-post855570.html