In a life filled with hardship and worry, few people find it easy to reveal the whole truth to everyone.
However, no one can hide themselves from poetry. When someone writes down words with a personal touch, even the most casual ones, they have indirectly made a fairly complete self-confession.
I read Phan Hong's poems and immediately realized he was a retired teacher. He himself confessed his past days: "The school on the windy hill / To overcome hardships / Teaching and… tilling the fields at the same time," and his present days: "I am now half a farmer / Cherishing honesty, affection, and the land / The other half is books / If you remember me, please come visit my home."
Each author has a specific purpose in literature. For author Phan Hong, he uses poetry to recount his life, the fates he has encountered, the paths he has traveled, the lost dreams, and the memories of the past.
Therefore, holding Phan Hong's collection of poems, "Hong's Poems," published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House, is like entering a heartfelt and intimate conversation. And it's not difficult to discover that Phan Hong, engaging in dialogue with others in those rambling recollections, is a man of gentleness and tolerance.
He didn't have a habit of raising his voice, and apparently didn't. He would just murmur, "The desolate space, the faint sound of birds / The fading sunlight drifts towards the mountains," and he would whisper, "Let my soul wander in the morning sun / Or let the mist and smoke color the long twilight."
Author Phan Hong has had the opportunity to travel to many places, both domestically and internationally, but the two places that always evoke strong emotions in him are his childhood home, Quang Nam, and his second homeland, Dak Lak .
In his birthplace, Phan Hong has a private space, "The wooden platform of his childhood / Lying and listening to crickets chirping on the doorstep," where he can look back and feel nostalgic, "The old doorstep still retains the image of Mother / And the figure of someone on the small path home / Still there, countless memories / Even though I am a person far from home all my life."
In the red basalt plateau, Phan Hong found a vibrant beauty: "A flickering flame / Sharing light on every face / Sharing warmth on every chest." Especially, the color of the wild sunflowers of the Central Highlands has the ability to nurture a sense of longing in Phan Hong, making him feel nostalgic: "Wild sunflowers / Still bring joy / To dispel the loneliness of life."
In Phan Hong's poetry, there are occasionally very romantic and passionate images, like "The river flows leaning towards the sun." However, this is not his outstanding strength, nor does it reflect his eagerness to create.
Author Phan Hong focuses on simple things that breathe the familiar breath of everyday life. Therefore, Phan Hong's poetry is not overly poetic but always rejects sadness and melancholy. The kind eyes of a teacher have guided Phan Hong's verses to a slow and leisurely pace, accompanying the many ups and downs of human life.
His poetry is like a sincere encouragement, a gentle blessing, and ultimately, a message of trust. "In the past, I searched within the pages of books / for vast horizons / Now, I search within the pages of books / for the emptiness of my soul."
Reading Phan Hong's poetry, I see a friendly hand waving affectionately from the slopes ablaze with the golden color of wild sunflowers, and I feel my heart lessen with envy and rivalry.
Phuong Hoa (According to sggp.org.vn)
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